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MRI Phase and Frequency Encoding Explained

The document discusses how magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) uses magnetic field gradients to spatially encode the MR signal from different locations in the body. It explains that slice selection uses gradients to excite only proton spins within a defined slice, while phase and frequency encoding create a matrix by applying gradients along two axes to distinguish proton spins at different locations within the slice. This spatial encoding allows reconstruction of an image from the MR signals in k-space.

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383 views25 pages

MRI Phase and Frequency Encoding Explained

The document discusses how magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) uses magnetic field gradients to spatially encode the MR signal from different locations in the body. It explains that slice selection uses gradients to excite only proton spins within a defined slice, while phase and frequency encoding create a matrix by applying gradients along two axes to distinguish proton spins at different locations within the slice. This spatial encoding allows reconstruction of an image from the MR signals in k-space.

Uploaded by

skycall28
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

MRI GRADIENTS

PHASE AND FREQUENCY


ENCODING

AKASH NAIK
16MM60001
The Question

● If we simply excite all the spins


within the head with one RF pulse, the
averaged transverse magnetization in
the head would generate the MR
signal.

The question remains:


● How can we distinguish between MR
signals from different locations in the
body?
The gradient trick
● In a homogeneous magnetic field, the
field strength is the same everywhere
by definition (B0) with proton spins
show the same precession frequency 0
proportional to the field strength.

● When a magnetic field gradient is


applied, the field shows a linear
increase. The precession of the proton
spins in this direction varies
accordingly at different places

● Only those spins that precess at the


correct Larmor frequency will resonate
with a given RF pulse.
● Gradient coils in pairs are
operated in a specific
direction.

● One coil increases the static


magnetic field, the
opposing coil reduces it.

This means that


● the magnetic field with its
original strength B0
changes like the incline of a
road.
● Slice selection – locating a
slice in the scan plane selected.

● Phase encoding -Spatially


locating signal along the short
axis of the image

● Frequency encoding-
Spatially locating signal along
the long axis of the image
Slice Selection
Slice Selection

● A slice is a defined resonance


area of the proton spins.

● Outside the slice, the spins are


not excited by the RF pulse.

● Transverse magnetization
(and therefore an MR signal)
is generated only within the
selected slice.
The matrix : resolution
● How do we get an image
from a slice ?

● Let us assume we want to generate


a tomogram in a 256 x 256 matrix
size.

● In this case, each row and column


has to be divided into 256 locations.

● Phase and Frequency encoding


through two axes enables us to
create such matrix
Phase Encoding
● The transverse
magnetization is
spinning at the same
rate and producing
signals that have the
same frequency.

● But the signals are out


of phase.
● We have to generate 256 MR signals with
different phase encodings for 256
different locations.
● This means 256 phase-encoding steps.
FREQUENCY
ENCODING
● Row of 256 x 256 matrix

• The spins of nuclei experiencing a


higher magnetic field strength due
to the gradient speed up; i.e. their
precessional frequencies increase
(similar to a high note on a keyboard).

• The spins of nuclei experiencing a


lower magnetic field strength due
to the presence of the gradient slow
down; i.e. their precessional fre-
quencies decrease (similar to a low note
on a keyboard) .
The Sequence
● Acquisition of
signals and
Fourier
Transform

● Image
reconstruction
from k-space
K-Space
Image Reconstruction
Refereences
[1] [Link]
[2] [Link]

[3] Willey .2nd Ed. MRI at a Glance


THANK YOU

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