ISMRM 21st Annual Meeting & Exhibition ○ 20-26 April 2013 ○ Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
WEEKDAY EDUCATIONAL COURSE
MR Physics & Techniques for Clinicians
SKILL LEVEL: Basic to Intermediate
ORGANIZERS: Marcus T. Alley, Ph.D. & Michael Markl, Ph.D.
 
TARGET AUDIENCE
This course is primarily designed for the clinician who will benefit from an understanding of the "how’s and why’s" of MR imaging. While it requires no prior experience with MR, those with some familiarity and experience will also benefit. Those interested may include: radiologists and clinicians relatively new to MR imaging (including residents and fellows), experienced radiologists and clinicians wanting a refresher course in MR physics, and physicists and engineers wanting an introduction to the field.
 
Monday, 22 April 2013
 
OVERVIEW
This two-hour course will be a basic and comprehensive review of MRI physics and techniques. The presentations will be non-mathematical and suitable for clinicians and physicists new to the field. The course will cover the basic principles of MR physics (signal generation, encoding, and relaxation) and k-space.
 
EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES

Upon completion of this course, participants should be able to:

  • Define and describe the fundamental principles of MR imaging including the definition of spin magnetization;
  • Utilize the Larmor relationship, relaxation phenomena, and the process of using the spin magnetization to produce an image; and
  • Describe and understand the concept of k-space.

PROGRAM

Moderators: Marcus T. Alley, Ph.D. & Michael Markl, Ph.D.
         
10:45 Spin Gymnastics 1 Donald B. Plewes, Ph.D.
11:25   Spin Gymnastics 2 Donald B. Plewes, Ph.D.
12:05 K-Space Kevin M. Koch, Ph.D.
         
12:45     Adjournment  
 
 
Tuesday, 23 April 2013
 
OVERVIEW
This two-hour course will be a basic and comprehensive review of MRI physics and techniques. The presentations will be non-mathematical and suitable for clinicians and physicists new to the field. The course will cover pulse sequence design and timing diagrams for basic MR imaging techniques such as spin-echo imaging, gradient-echo imaging, and fast spin-echo imaging.
 
EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES

Upon completion of this course, participants should be able to:

  • Understand the basic physics and properties of pulse sequences based upon spin and gradient echoes;
  • Describe fast spin-echo imaging and applications of basic MR pulse sequences; and
  • Design MR imaging protocols for diagnostic applications considering image contrast, spatial resolution, acquisition time, signal-to-noise ratio and artifacts.

PROGRAM

Moderators: Marcus T. Alley, Ph.D. & Michael Markl, Ph.D.
         
16:00 Spin Echo Imaging Pauline W. Worters, Ph.D.
17:00 Gradient Echo Imaging Daniel B. Ennis, Ph.D.
         
18:00     Adjournment  
 
Wednesday, 24 April 2013
 
OVERVIEW
This two-hour course will be a basic and comprehensive review of MRI physics and techniques. The presentations will be non-mathematical and suitable for clinicians and physicists new to the field. The course will cover advanced MRI techniques including ultra-fast imaging, parallel imaging and an overview of the types of artifacts that appear in MR imaging.
 
EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES

Upon completion of this course, participants should be able to:

  • Understand the principles of ultrafast MRI methods including echo planar techniques;
  • Implement principles and applications of parallel imaging for accelerated MR imaging; and
  • Understand common MR imaging artifacts, their causes and identify strategies to mitigate image artifacts.

PROGRAM

Moderators: Marcus T. Alley, Ph.D. & Michael Markl, Ph.D.
         
16:00 Ultrafast Imaging Mariya Doneva, Ph.D.
16:40 Parallel Imaging Charles A. McKenzie, Ph.D.
17:20 Artifacts to Artefacts: Causes & Cures from Clinical Perspective Walter F. Block, Ph.D.
         
18:00     Adjournment  
 
Thursday, 25 April 2013
 
OVERVIEW
This two-hour course will be a basic and comprehensive review of MRI physics and techniques. The presentations will be non-mathematical and suitable for clinicians and physicists new to the field. The course will cover advanced techniques including perfusion and diffusion imaging as well as recent developments in high-field imaging.
 
EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES

Upon completion of this course, participants should be able to:

  • Describe the principles of perfusion imaging and diffusion weighted imaging;
  • Select the appropriate contrast agents to be used to target different anatomical areas and physiological processes during imaging, and explain why; and
  • Understand current concepts, applications and challenges in high-field MR imaging.

PROGRAM

Moderators: Marcus T. Alley, Ph.D. & Michael Markl, Ph.D.
         
16:00 Diffusion & Perfusion Weighted Imaging Matthias Weigel, Ph.D.
16:40 Contrast Agents Michael V. Knopp, M.D., Ph.D.
17:20 High Field Imaging Priti Balchandani, Ph.D.
         
18:00     Adjournment