ISMRM 21st Annual Meeting & Exhibition ○ 20-26 April 2013 ○ Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
WEEKEND EDUCATIONAL COURSE
MR Systems Engineering
SKILL LEVEL: Intermediate
ORGANIZERS: Richard W. Bowtell, Ph.D. & Michael S. Poole, Ph.D.
Saturday, 20 April 2013
08:30-17:15
 
OVERVIEW
This one-day Educational Course is targeted at scientists and clinicians interested in understanding the engineering of magnetic resonance systems. In a series of 12 lectures from experts in MR Systems Engineering, attendees will first be provided with an overview of an MR system, and then learn about the design of magnet, gradients and shim systems, as well as the operation of the radiofrequency (RF) electronic subsystems that interface with RF coils. Issues relating to the siting and installation of new MR systems will also be discussed. In addition attendees will be taught about the basic mechanisms by which medical devices interact with the static magnet field and gradients within an MRI scanner, as well as the interactions of these low frequency electromagnetic fields with the human body. This course is aimed at scientists and clinicians with a technical background and interest in MR systems hardware. It is expected to provide attendees with an understanding of fundamental aspects of MR system operation.
 
TARGET AUDIENCE
The target audience for this course is made up of 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 in the engineering of MR systems.
 
EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES

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

  • Assess the basic hardware components of an MRI scanner and how they interact;
  • Classify the basic methods for magnet, gradient and shim design;
  • Evaluate issues related to siting a new MR scanner;
  • Recognize practical limitations in the construction and installation of magnets, gradients and shim systems;
  • Identify 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.
 

PROGRAM

Moderators: Richard W. Bowtell, Ph.D. & Michael S. Poole, Ph.D.
         
      System Overview & Magnets  
08:30 Overview of the MRI System Paul R. Harvey, Ph.D.
09:00 Magnets Adrian Thomas, Ph.D.
09:30 Siting the System Stuart Clare, Ph.D.
         
10:00     Break - Meet the Teachers  
         
      Shims, Gradients & Field Monitoring  
10:30 Shimming: Fields, Coils & Control Christoph Juchem, Ph.D.
11:00  Gradient Systems Michael S. Poole, Ph.D.
11:30 Field Monitoring & System Calibration Christoph Barmet, 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 Gregor Schaefers, Dipl.Ing.(FH)
14:00 kHz (Gradient) Interactions Blaine A. Chronik, Ph.D.
14:30 Modeling Low Frequency Interactions Stuart R. Crozier, Ph.D., D.Eng.
         
15:00     Break - Meet the Teachers  
         
      RF & Console Electronics  
15:30 RF Power Amps Greig C. Scott, Ph.D.
16:00 RF Preamps & Receive Chain Architecture Stephan Biber, Ph.D.
16:30 Console Electronics Katsumi Kose, Ph.D.
         
17:00     Adjournment  
      17:00-17:15 Meet the Teachers