Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Basics

Study Notes

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is a medical imaging technique used to produce high-quality images of the human body.

NMR is a spectroscopic technique used to obtain microscopic chemical and physical information about molecules.
MRI is based on the principles of NMR.

In the late 1970s, the term "nuclear" had negative connotations, leading to the use of "Magnetic Resonance Imaging" instead of "Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Imaging" (NMRI).

Initially, MRI was a tomographic imaging technique, producing an image of the NMR signal in a thin slice through the human body.
Over time, MRI has advanced beyond tomographic imaging to become a volume imaging technique.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is an imaging technique used in medical settings to produce high-quality images of the inside of the human body.

Felix Bloch and Edward Purcell independently discovered the magnetic resonance phenomenon in 1946 and were awarded the Nobel Prize in 1952.
Between 1950 and 1970, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) was developed and used for chemical and physical molecular analysis.
In 1971, Raymond Damadian showed that the nuclear magnetic relaxation times of tissues and tumors differed, motivating the consideration of magnetic resonance for disease detection.
In 1973, the x-ray-based computerized tomography (CT) was introduced by Hounsfield, demonstrating hospitals' willingness to invest in medical imaging hardware.

In 1973, Paul Lauterbur demonstrated MRI on small test tube samples using a back projection technique similar to that used in CT.
MRI has progressed from a tomographic imaging technique to a volume imaging technique, producing comprehensive images of the human body.