Spring 2009

ECTS credits: 4.5

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

Course Objectives

After successful completion of the course the students should be able to

• describe in detail the mechanisms of nuclear magnetic resonance and explain how it can be used to form the basis for the MRI signal.
• explain the imaging process of MRI, from spin excitation to slice selection to phase and frequency encoding.
• design and draw sequence diagrams to achieve a given imaging scheme.
• compute gradient amplitudes and times for a given sampling of k-space.
• describe which basic image artifacts that are associated with MRI and, if possible, how they can be avoided when designing imaging sequences.
• select a basic imaging sequence and compute adequate parameters to achieve a desired contrast between tissues of given material parameters.

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.

Examination

- Passed written exam (3 credits), grading A-F
- Passed home and lab work (1.5 credits), grading P/F

The course is divided into

- 8-9 x 2 hour lectures
- 2 laboratory exercises
- Homework presented at two exercise sessions
- Written exam

Laborations and guest lectures at the MR-center are mandatory.

Laboratory exercises

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

Homework and Exercise sessions

Homework will be given through out the course. The solutions to the homework will be presented and discussed by the students at two exercise sessions. At the beginning of the sessions the students tick the problems they are willing to present. The presenter for each problem is chosen randomly from this list.

The students must show that they have made an honest effort to prepare the problem and be able to lead a classroom discussion to a satisfactory solution. If they fail in this their "ticks" are removed for that session.

To pass homework at least 75% of the problems need to be ticked.

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: Wednesday, April 15, 10.15-12.00
Place: Albanova, 5th floor, room FB51

Lab 1: Relaxation

Place: MR-Center, Building N8, Karolinska University Hospital, Solna, KS-Map
Times:
Group A1: Wed, Apr 15, 18.30-21.00, MR Physicist: Mathias Engström
Group B1: Wed, Apr 15, 18.30-21.00, MR Physicist: Magnus Mårtensson
Group C1: Thur, Apr 16, 18.30-21.00, MR Physicist: Mathias Engström
Group D1: Thur, Apr 16, 18.30-21.00, MR Physicist: Magnus Mårtensson

Lecture 2

RF excitation, free precession and relaxation.
Lecturer: Peter Nillius
Time: Friday, April 17, 10.15-12.00
Place: Albanova, 5th floor, room FD51

Lecture 3

Clinical use of MRI.
Lecturer: Yords Österman
Time: Monday, April 20, 13.00-15.00
Place: Leksellsalen, Eugeniahemmet, Building T3, Karolinska University Hospital, Solna, KS-Map

Lecture 4

Signal detection, free induction decay and spin echoes.
Lecturer: Peter Nillius
Time: Tuesday, April 21, 10.15-12.00
Place: Albanova, 5th floor, room FB55

Lecture 5

Signal localization.
Lecturer: Peter Nillius
Time: Wednesday, April 22, 10.15-12.00
Place: Albanova, 5th floor, room FB51

Exercise session 1

Moderator: Peter Nillius
Time: Wednesday, April 22, 15.15-17.00
Place: Albanova, 5th floor, room FD51

Lecture 6

More signal localization. Image contrast.
Lecturer: Peter Nillius
Time: Friday, April 24, 10.15-12.00
Place: Building near Albanova, room FP41

Lecture 7

Image artifacts. Echo Planar Imaging. Image reconstruction.
Lecturer: Peter Nillius
Time: Monday, April 27, 10.15-12.00
Place: Albanova, 5th floor, room FB51

Lab 2: Artifacts

Place: MR-Center, Building N8, Karolinska University Hospital, Solna, KS-Map
Times:
Group A2: Monday, April 27, 16.30-19.00, MR Physicist: Mathias Engström
Group B2: Monday, April 27, 16.30-19.00, MR Physicist: Magnus Mårtensson
Group C2: Monday, April 27, 19.00-21.30, MR Physicist: Mathias Engström
Group D2: Monday, April 27, 19.00-21.30, MR Physicist: Magnus Mårtensson

Lecture 8

Instrumentation and coils. Parallel Imaging.
Lecturer: Magnus Mårtensson
Time: Tuesday, April 28, 10.15-12.00
Place: MR-Center, Building N8, Karolinska University Hospital, Solna, KS-Map

Lecture 9

Exam preparation. Exercises
Lecturer: Peter Nillius
Time: Wednesday, April 29, 10.15-12.00
Place: Albanova, 5th floor, room FB51

Exercise session 2

Moderator: Peter Nillius
Time: Thursday, April 30, 10.15-12.00
Place: Albanova, 5th floor, room FB55

Examination

Written examination.
Time: Tuesday, May 5, 08.00-13.00
Place: Albanova, 5th floor, room FB52

Course Leader

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