ECTS credits: 4.5

The aim of the course is to provide the students with a thorough understanding of the physics and principles of Magnetic Resonance Imaging. Topics include nuclear magnetic resonance, image formation, sources of contrast, sources of noise and artifacts, instrumentation and safety aspects.

Prerequisites

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering Physics, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science or equivalent. The course is intended for students in the Master program in Medical Imaging, but a limited number students from other programs are welcome too. Contact the course administrator to see if you can take the course.

Examination

- Passed written exam, grading A-F
- Passed home and lab work, grading P/F

The course is divided into

- 8-9 x 2 hour lectures
- 2 laboratory excercises
- Homework
- Written exam

Laborations and lectures at the MR-center are mandatory.

Laboratory excercises

Two laboratory exercises given by the MR-Physics group, Dept of Hospital Physics at Karolinska University Hospital is included in the course.
- Relaxation
- Artifacts

Course Literature

Principles of Magnetic Resonance Imaging: A Signal Processing Perspective, Liang, Z.-P. and Lauterbur, P.C.

Course Schedule

Lecture 1

Introduction. Spins in a magnetic field.
Lecturer: Peter Nillius
Time: Thursday, April 10, 10.15-12.00
Place: Albanova, 5th floor, room FB55

Lecture 2

RF excitation, free precession and relaxation.
Lecturer: Peter Nillius
Time: Friday, April 11, 10.15-12.00
Place: Albanova, 5th floor, room FB51

Lecture 3

Signal detection, free induction decay, spin echoes and gradient echoes.
Lecturer: Peter Nillius
Time: Wednesday, April 16, 10.15-12.00
Place: Albanova, 5th floor, room FD51

Lab 1: Relaxation

Place: MR-Center, Building N8, Karolinska University Hospital, Solna, KS-Map
Times:
Group A: Thursday, April 17, 16.30-19.00, MR Physicist: Mathias Engström
Group B: Thursday, April 17, 19.00-21.30, MR Physicist: Mathias Engström
Group C: Tuesday, April 22, 16.30-19.00, MR Physicist: Magnus Mårtensson
Group D: Tuesday, April 22, 19.00-21.30, MR Physicist: Magnus Mårtensson

Lecture 4

Signal localization.
Lecturer: Peter Nillius
Time: Friday, April 18, 9.15-11.00
Place: Albanova, 5th floor, room FD51

Lecture 5

Sources of image contrast.
Lecturer: Peter Nillius
Time: Monday, April 21, 10.15-12.00
Place: Albanova, 5th floor, room FB55

Lecture 6

Image noise and artifacts.
Lecturer: Peter Nillius
Time: Tuesday, April 22, 10.15-12.00
Place: Albanova, 4th floor, room FB42

Lab 2: Artifacts

Place: MR-Center, Building N8, Karolinska University Hospital, Solna, KS-Map
Times:
Group A: Tuesday, April 22, 18.00-21.30, MR Physicist: Ulrika Svanholm
Group B: Wednesday, April 23, 18.00-21.30, MR Physicist: Ulrika Svanholm
Group C: Wednesday April 23, 18.00-21.30, MR Physicist: Magnus Mårtensson
Group D: Thursday, April 24, 18.00-21.30, MR Physicist: Mathias Engström

Lecture 7

Lecturer: Peter Nillius
Time: Thursday, April 24, 10.15-12.00
Place: Albanova, 5th floor, room FB55

Lecture 8

Instrumentation and coils. Parallel Imaging.
Lecturer: Magnus Mårtensson
Time: Friday, April 25, 13.00-15.00
Place: MR-Center, Building N8, Karolinska University Hospital, Solna, KS-Map

Lecture 9

Clinical use of MRI.
Lecturer: Yords Österman
Time: Wednesday, April 30, 10.00-12.00
Place: MR-Center, Building N8, Karolinska University Hospital, Solna, KS-Map

Exercises

Lecturer: Peter Nillius
Time: Friday, May 2, 10.15-12.00
Place: Albanova, 5th floor, room FB55

Examination

Written examination.
Time: Monday, May 5, 08.00-13.00
Place: Albanova, 5th floor, FB54

Course Administrator

Peter Nillius
Email: nillius@mi.physics.kth.se