Physics and Instrumentation of Medical Magnetic Resonance

Program Overview

This 30-credit course in Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) provides a comprehensive overview of MRI principles, image formation, and advanced techniques. Through lectures, tutorials, and industry workshops, students will gain knowledge in contrast mechanisms, pulse sequences, artefacts, and quality assurance. The course culminates in a written assignment evaluating a pulse sequence and an A3 poster on an aspect of MRI safety or equipment.

Program Outline

Outline:

• Content: The principles of Magnetic Resonance Imaging, image formation, contrast mechanisms and image weighting, standard pulse sequences, advanced pulse sequences, recent advances techniques and instrumentation, artefacts and artefact suppression, advancements in hardware and software of MRI scanners, image quality and factors which affect it, quality assurance, equipment selection and installation, MR safety and biological effects.
• Structure: The course is divided into two terms, with each term consisting of three days of lectures and tutorials per week.
• Course schedule: The course will run from 9am to 4pm on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays during the first term.
• Individual modules:
• The principles of Magnetic Resonance Imaging
• Image formation
• Contrast mechanisms and image weighting
• Standard Pulse Sequences
• Advanced Pulse Sequences
• Recent advances techniques and instrumentation
• Artefacts and artefact suppression
• Advancements in Hardware and Software of MRI scanners
• Image Quality and factors which affect it
• Quality Assurance
• Equipment selection and installation
• MR Safety and biological effects

Assessment:

• There is no weekly homework as part of this course, only two end-of-course assessments.
• You will produce a 3,000-word written assignment evaluating a pulse sequence of your choice.
• You will produce an A3 poster evaluating an aspect of MRI safety, equipment, quality assurance or department design.
• Formative feedback will be provided on a 500-word abstract on a technical MR issue of your choice to prepare you for the final written assignment, which will assess your academic writing skills as well as your knowledge of the instrumentation of physics principles of MRI.

Teaching:

• You will be taught by a combination of lectures and tutorials as well as workshops by industry.
• This course also includes presentations from industry to update you on state-of-the-art MRI software and hardware.

Other:

• This course is provided by the School of Health & Psychological Sciences.
• This course is worth 30 credits toward eligible programmes.