WEEKEND EDUCATIONAL COURSE
MR Systems Engineering
ORGANIZERS: Richard W. Bowtell, Ph.D., M.A. & Michael S. Poole, Ph.D.
 
SKILL LEVEL: Intermediate-Advanced
Saturday, 5 May 2012

OVERVIEW
This one-day course is targeted at scientists and clinicians interested in understanding the engineering of magnetic resonance systems. In a series of 12 lectures attendees will first be provided with an overview of an MR system, and then learn about the design of magnet, gradient and shim systems, as well as the operation of the radiofrequency (RF) electronic subsystems that interface with RF coils. In addition, attendees will be taught about the basic mechanisms by which medical devices interact with the magnet and gradients within an MRI scanner, as well as the interactions of these low frequency electromagnetic fields with the human body.
 
EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES
Upon completion of this course participants should be able to:
Describe the basic hardware components of an MRI scanner and how they interact;
Describe the basic methods for magnet, gradient and shim design;
List practical limitations in the construction of magnets, gradients and shim systems;
Identify and describe the basic mechanisms by which medical devices interact with the magnet and gradients within an MRI scanner;
Describe the interactions of low frequency electromagnetic fields with the human body; and
Explain the RF electronic subsystems that interface with RF coils.
 
AUDIENCE DESCRIPTION
This course is primarily designed for scientists and clinicians who are starting to work in the field of MRI and would like to have an overview of the engineering of an MR system. More experienced researchers in particular areas of MR Engineering will also benefit from hearing about recent advances.

PROGRAM

Click on to view the abstract pdf. Click on to view the recorded presentation.

  Moderators: Richard W. Bowtell, Ph.D., M.A. & Michael S. Poole, Ph.D.
     
  System Overview & Magnets  
08:30 Overview of the MRI System
permission withheld
Paul R. Harvey, Ph.D.
09:00 Magnets: Theory Darren Houlden, C.Phys., M.Inst.P., B.Sc.
09:30 Magnets: Reality Simon J. Calvert
     
10:00 Break - Meet the Teachers  
     
  Shims & Gradients  
10:30 Shimming: Fields, Coils & Control Christoph Juchem, Ph.D.
11:00 Gradient Coils: EM, Heating & Mechanical Michael S. Poole, Ph.D.
11:30 Gradient Amplifiers: Power & Control Juan A. Sabate, Ph.D.
     
12:00 Break  
  12:00-12:15 Meet the Teachers  
     
  Devices in the Scanner & Low Frequency Interactions  
13:30 Overview of Device Interactions
permission withheld
Gregor Schaefers, Dipl.Ing. (FH)
14:00 kHz (Gradient) Interactions
permission withheld
Paul M. Glover, Ph.D.
14:30 Modeling Low Frequency Interactions Stuart R. Crozier, Ph.D., D.Eng.
     
15:00 Break - Meet the Teachers  
     
  RF Electronics  
15:30 RF Power Amps: Introduction Greig C. Scott, Ph.D.
16:00 RF Preamps Stephan Biber, Ph.D.
16:30 Console Electronics Pascal P. Stang, M.Sc.
     
17:00 Adjournment  
  17:00-17:15 Meet the Teachers