The Making of an

MRI

Magnetic Resonance Imaging or MRI Scanning as we commonly call it is a process where strong
magnetic fields and radio waves are used to produce detailed images of the inside of a human body.
How MRI Scans Help

MRI Scans provide clear images of the abdomen, blood vessels, brain,
chest, pelvis, tissues, joints and the spinal cord.

With the help of these images, doctors can accurately diagnose a

patient's medical condition.

Doctors usually recommend getting an MRI Scan to detect conditions

like joint or muscle disorders, cancer, etc.
MRI Scans are Commonly Generated for
Brain 25%
Head & Neck
Region 6%

Spine 26%

Chest & Cardiac

System 3%
Abdomen &
Pelvis 8%
Upper & Lower
Extremities 20%
Components of an MRI Scanner
Although there are different makes and models of MRI Scanners available these days, the basic
structure remains the same.
The Magnet is the most important component of the MRI
Scanners. The most commonly used magnet is the
Superconducting Magnet, which is extremely powerful.

The 3 Gradient Magnets present inside these machines,

with significantly lower strength, are used to create a
variable field that allows different body parts to be scanned.

The Patient Table slides the patients in and

out of the MRI Scanner. The area of the body
that is to be scanned determines the patient's
position.
 A set of Coils helps transmit radio frequency waves into
the patients' bodies. There are different coils present for
different parts of the body.

An extremely powerful Computer System is used to gather the

data generated during the MRI scanning process and create
images from the collected data.
The Scanning Process

The patient made to lie down and is positioned on

1 the movable patient table.

The coil containing devices are placed around or

2 close to the area that is to be scanned.

If injectable contrast is to be used for the scans, an

3 IV line is inserted into the patient's vein.
 The patient is then slid inside the MRI Scanner, into
4 the active magnetic field.

The hydrogen atoms present in the patient's body

5 align themselves in the direction of the
magnetic field.

Radio frequency waves transmitted by the coils

6 cause protons from some hydrogen cells to spin at
a particular frequency.

The computer receives signals from these protons

7 in the form of mathematical data, which is then
converted into images.
 The patient made to lie down and is positioned on
8 the movable patient table.

The coil containing devices are placed around or

9 close to the area that is to be scanned.

Sources of Reference:
http://www.openmrioforlando.com/features.php

http://www.magnetic-resonance.org/ch/21-01.html

http://science.howstuffworks.com/mri1.htm

http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=bodymr