ISMRM22 - Physics for Clinicians I

Joint Annual Meeting ISMRM-ESMRMB & ISMRT 31st Annual Meeting • 07-12 May 2022 • London, UK

Physics for Clinicians I

Weekday Course

ORGANIZERS: Ashley Harris, Adrienne Campbell-Washburn, Philipp Ehses

Monday, 09 May 2022

N11 (Breakout B)

14:45 - 16:45

Moderators:
Physics for Clinicians I.A: Sonia Nielles-Vallespin
Physics for Clinicians I.B: Erika Raven

Skill Level: Basic

Session Number: M-04

Session Number: M-04

Overview
This session and the associated session MR Physics for Clinicians Part 2 will discuss the physics of magnetic resonance from first principles to applications. The presentations will focus on concepts and will not be mathematical, thus targeting clinicians and physicists new to the field. It will provide a basic and comprehensive review of signal generation, encoding, relaxation, and image contrast.

Target Audience
This course is designed for the clinician who aims to understand the principles of MR imaging. No prior knowledge is necessary, but those with some familiarity or experience will also benefit. Interested attendees may include radiologists and clinicians who are relatively new to MRI, or those more experienced who want a refresher, and physicists/engineers who are looking for an introduction to MRI.

Educational Objectives
As a result of attending this course, participants should be able to:
- Describe the fundamental principles of MR imaging, including spin magnetization and precession;
- Describe sources of image contrast;
- Define the differences between signal weighting and quantitative imaging (e.g., contrast T1-weighted images with T1- maps);
- Interpret the basics of a pulse sequence and pulse sequence parameters and compare differences;
- Summarize basic concepts for more advanced methods and acquisitions;
- Explain the fundamentals of image reconstruction methods including parallel imaging and compressed sensing;
- Compare terminology across vendors, including vendor-specific terms and definitions that vary between platforms;
- Assess artifacts that arise from the patient such as physiological noise and motion and bulk motion and some possible solutions; and
- Recall insight from a real-world example on the translation of novel MR approaches to their use in clinic.

	Physics for Clinicians I.A
14:45		Where Does the Signal Come From? View the Presentation Robert Thomen Where exactly does the signal of an NMR experiment come from? How is tissue contrasted in an MR image? What can be done to improve signal? What are T1, T2, and Boltzmann Magnetization? In this lecture we will examine the foundations of the NMR experiment and build an expression for the detected signal which determines the voxel brightness in MRI. We will take a conceptual approach to understanding NMR beginning with the NMR experiment, precession, nuclear magnetization, and relaxation.
15:15		Overview of MR Hardware & Its Function View the Presentation Rebecca Feldman Magnetic Resonance Imaging is a powerful tool use to non-invasively and non-destructively image the human body. This is done by carefully timing and manipulating the magnetic fields. The system that makes this happen is generally composed of at three different types of electromagnets, as well as systems for control and maintenance. The physics underlying the function of these systems will be discussed, without mathematical detail.
	Physics for Clinicians I.B
15:45		Anatomy of a Pulse Sequence View the Presentation Michael Schär In MRI, the previously described electromagnetic fields are applied sequentially to localize the signal within the body. The timings and strengths of these fields are described by standard parameters and visualized with pulse sequence diagrams. In this talk, the most basic MRI parameters and sequences will be introduced, and how changing them affects the image contrast.
16:15		From Image Contrast to Quantitative Imaging View the Presentation Tobias Wood This talk will provide a grounding in how to turn standard MR contrast images into quantitative maps. Such maps represent meaningful physical and biological parameters with known units. This provides new information on a voxel-wise level with which to base clinical diagnoses. This development can be seen as part of the continuing development of MRI as a field, turning the scanner from a fancy camera into a precise scientific measuring instrument.