continuation of MRI Flashcards
MRI (36 cards)
Relaxation
The phenomenon responsible for most basic MR contrast, characterized by the return of magnetization components to their equilibrium states after perturbation.
What are the Bloch Equations
Empirical equations describing the rate of change of magnetization components (M x, M y, M z) with respect to time (t), influenced by longitudinal (T1) and transverse (T2) relaxation times.
What is Longitudinal Relaxation (T1)
The time constant describing the rate at which the longitudinal magnetization (Mz) recovers to its equilibrium state after perturbation, influenced by spin-lattice interactions.
Transverse Relaxation (T2)
The time constant describing the rate at which the transverse magnetization (M xy) decays due to loss of phase coherence among spins, influencing image contrast.
Relationship Between T1 and T2
Generally, T2 is shorter than T1, indicating faster dephasing of spins compared to the return to equilibrium polarization. T2 can be comparable to T1 in systems with highly mobile molecules (e.g., water), but T2 is significantly shorter than T1 in solids, resulting in poor bone visibility in standard MR images.
Name all three Bloch Equations
dt/dMz = − (Mz −M0)/T1
dt/dMx = −(Mx/T2)+γMyBz
dt/dM = (My/T2) - γMxBz
Longitudinal Relaxation (t1)
The process by which the spin system returns to the Boltzmann equilibrium distribution following absorption of RF energy.
What causes Longitudinal Relaxation
Longitudinal recovery involves the exchange of spin energy with thermal energy of molecules, facilitated by Brownian motion and dipole-dipole interactions.
What is brownian motion
Random motion of molecules, generating fluctuating magnetic fields that cause transitions between spin states and contribute to longitudinal relaxation.
What is dipole-dipole interaction?
Interactions between spins due to the fluctuating magnetic fields generated by neighboring molecules, contributing to longitudinal relaxation.
Why is relaxation inefficient in pure water
due to a small fraction of motions being at the Larmor frequency.
what can influence relaxation time T1
Hydrogen bonding and molecular mobility influence relaxation time (T1), with reduced mobility leading to shorter T1 values.
T1 relaxation time is influenced by temperature, with higher temperatures generally leading to shorter T1 values.
T1 relaxation time is affected by the magnetic field strength, as it determines the Larmor frequency influencing relaxation processes.
Measurement of T1 using Inversion Recovery Sequence
In the inversion recovery sequence, a 180° RF pulse inverts longitudinal magnetization, followed by a 90° pulse to measure magnetization recovery at varying inversion times (TI).
Longitudinal Magnetization Recovery
After inversion, longitudinal magnetization (Mz) recovers towards equilibrium with a time constant T1, allowing measurement of T1 values.
Inversion Time (TI)
The time between the 180° inversion pulse and the subsequent 90° pulse in the inversion recovery sequence, affecting the measured magnetization recovery.
What is Tnull
The time at which longitudinal magnetization is zero during the inversion recovery sequence, influencing the signal measured in the experiment.
FID (Free Induction Decay) Signal
Signal generated in MRI from precessing spins after the application of RF pulses, used to measure longitudinal magnetization recovery.
Boundary Conditions for Longitudinal Relaxation
Initial conditions of the magnetization and its recovery process in the inversion recovery sequence, influencing the measured signal.
What is T1 mapping
Process of generating spatial maps of T1 relaxation times by measuring longitudinal magnetization recovery at different inversion times (TI).
Signal Fitting for T1 Measurement
Process of fitting measured signal values at different inversion times (TI) to the equation describing longitudinal magnetization recovery, yielding T1 values.
What does a 180 degree pulse do
Inverts longitudinal magnetisation.
Longitudinal magnetisation will recover over towards equilibrium distribution w time constant T1.
How to measure longitudinal relaxation using inversion recovery sequence
Apply 180degree pulse to invert longitudinal magnetisation
Mz will recover to equilibrium distribution w time constant T1.
After an inversion time, 90 degree pulse flips longitudinal magnetisation.
Providing a FID proportional to longitudinal magnetisation.
Steps to Measure T1
Flip Mz upside down with 180 pilse
Vary TI with 90degree pulse as it returns to normal
Bt changing 180-90degree pulses you get a sample at different stages
Reaches a null point
Recovers to normal state
Calculate
What happens to the magnetization vector Mxy after a 90° RF pulse in MRI?
The 90° RF pulse tips the net magnetization vector from its equilibrium position along the z-axis into the xy-plane, initiating precession at the Larmor frequency.
