Numerical Simulations for
Magnetic Resonance Imaging: Signal, Noise, and Temperature
Considering Interactions Between Electromagnetic Fields and The
Human Body
Chris Collins, NYU School of Medicine
Abstract:
Today’s clinical Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) systems
apply very strong magnetic fields with frequencies ranging
from DC to hundreds of MHz, all carefully choreographed to
manipulate the nuclei of the hydrogen atoms throughout the
body. These fields interact with the human body in many ways,
some of which are necessary for the imaging process, and
others that can result in distortion of the images and even
concerns for patient safety. Thankfully, numerical methods of
simulation allow us to anticipate these interactions in design
of hardware and imaging sequences in order to maximize the
desired interactions and minimize the rest. In this talk, I
will introduce the magnetic fields required for MRI and their
various interactions with the human body before discussing the
many ways numerical simulations are helping us to maximize
safety and performance of current systems, as well as design
the systems of the future.