ISMRM 21st Annual Meeting & Exhibition 20-26 April 2013 Salt Lake City, Utah, USA

WEEKDAY EDUCATIONAL COURSE
MR Physics & Techniques for Clinicians
SKILL LEVEL: Basic to Intermediate
ORGANIZERS: Marcus T. Alley, Ph.D. & Michael Markl, Ph.D.
 
TARGET AUDIENCE
This course is primarily designed for the clinician who will benefit from an understanding of the "how�s and why�s" of MR imaging. While it requires no prior experience with MR, those with some familiarity and experience will also benefit. Those interested may include: radiologists and clinicians relatively new to MR imaging (including residents and fellows), experienced radiologists and clinicians wanting a refresher course in MR physics, and physicists and engineers wanting an introduction to the field.
 

Monday, 22 April 2013
 
OVERVIEW
This two-hour course will be a basic and comprehensive review of MRI physics and techniques. The presentations will be non-mathematical and suitable for clinicians and physicists new to the field. The course will cover the basic principles of MR physics (signal generation, encoding, and relaxation) and k-space.
 
EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES

Upon completion of this course, participants should be able to:

  • Define and describe the fundamental principles of MR imaging including the definition of spin magnetization;
  • Utilize the Larmor relationship, relaxation phenomena, and the process of using the spin magnetization to produce an image; and
  • Describe and understand the concept of k-space.

PROGRAM

Moderators: Marcus T. Alley, Ph.D. & Michael Markl, Ph.D.

         
10:45 Spin Gymnastics 1 Donald B. Plewes, Ph.D.
11:25   Spin Gymnastics 2 Donald B. Plewes, Ph.D.
12:05 K-Space Kevin M. Koch, Ph.D.
         
12:45     Adjournment  
 
 

Tuesday, 23 April 2013
 
OVERVIEW
This two-hour course will be a basic and comprehensive review of MRI physics and techniques. The presentations will be non-mathematical and suitable for clinicians and physicists new to the field. The course will cover pulse sequence design and timing diagrams for basic MR imaging techniques such as spin-echo imaging, gradient-echo imaging, and fast spin-echo imaging.
 
EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES

Upon completion of this course, participants should be able to:

  • Understand the basic physics and properties of pulse sequences based upon spin and gradient echoes;
  • Describe fast spin-echo imaging and applications of basic MR pulse sequences; and
  • Design MR imaging protocols for diagnostic applications considering image contrast, spatial resolution, acquisition time, signal-to-noise ratio and artifacts.

PROGRAM

Moderators: Marcus T. Alley, Ph.D. & Michael Markl, Ph.D.

         
16:00 Spin Echo Imaging Pauline W. Worters, Ph.D.
17:00 Gradient Echo Imaging Daniel B. Ennis, Ph.D.
         
18:00     Adjournment  
 

Wednesday, 24 April 2013
 
OVERVIEW
This two-hour course will be a basic and comprehensive review of MRI physics and techniques. The presentations will be non-mathematical and suitable for clinicians and physicists new to the field. The course will cover advanced MRI techniques including ultra-fast imaging, parallel imaging and an overview of the types of artifacts that appear in MR imaging.
 
EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES

Upon completion of this course, participants should be able to:

  • Understand the principles of ultrafast MRI methods including echo planar techniques;
  • Implement principles and applications of parallel imaging for accelerated MR imaging; and
  • Understand common MR imaging artifacts, their causes and identify strategies to mitigate image artifacts.

PROGRAM

Moderators: Marcus T. Alley, Ph.D. & Michael Markl, Ph.D.

         
16:00 Ultrafast Imaging Mariya Doneva, Ph.D.
16:40 Parallel Imaging Charles A. McKenzie, Ph.D.
17:20 Artifacts to Artefacts: Causes & Cures from Clinical Perspective Walter F. Block, Ph.D.
         
18:00     Adjournment  
 

Thursday, 25 April 2013
 
OVERVIEW
This two-hour course will be a basic and comprehensive review of MRI physics and techniques. The presentations will be non-mathematical and suitable for clinicians and physicists new to the field. The course will cover advanced techniques including perfusion and diffusion imaging as well as recent developments in high-field imaging.
 
EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES

Upon completion of this course, participants should be able to:

  • Describe the principles of perfusion imaging and diffusion weighted imaging;
  • Select the appropriate contrast agents to be used to target different anatomical areas and physiological processes during imaging, and explain why; and
  • Understand current concepts, applications and challenges in high-field MR imaging.

PROGRAM

Moderators: Marcus T. Alley, Ph.D. & Michael Markl, Ph.D.

         
16:00 Diffusion & Perfusion Weighted Imaging Matthias Weigel, Ph.D.
16:40 Contrast Agents Michael V. Knopp, M.D., Ph.D.
17:20 High Field Imaging Priti Balchandani, Ph.D.
         
18:00     Adjournment