Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) |
An imaging technique that analyzes the molecular motion of water in tissues such as the brain. Clinical applications include assessment of white matter pathology in preterm infants and term infants with neonatal encephalopathy. |
Ferromagnetic |
A substance, such as iron, that has a large, positive, magnetic susceptibility (ability to become magnetized when placed within a magnetic field). |
5-Gauss line |
Perimeter around an MR system within which the static magnetic fields are higher than 5 gauss. Five gauss and below are considered "safe" levels of static magnetic field exposure for the general public. |
Flux |
Invisible lines of force that extend around a magnetic material. |
Fringe field |
The region surrounding a magnet and exhibiting a magnetic field strength that is significantly higher than the earth's magnetic field. The size of the fringe field depends on the magnet type and field strength. The higher the field strength, the larger the fringe field. Fringe field is also called the stray field. |
Gauss (G) |
A unit of magnetic flux density. Gauss is 1 of 2 units used to measure magnetic field strength; the other and current preferred (SI) unit is the Tesla (10,000 Gauss = 1 Tesla). |
Gradient magnetic fields |
A magnetic field that changes in strength in a certain direction. Gradient magnetic fields are used in MR imaging with selective excitation to select a region for imaging and also to encode the location of MR signals received from area being imaged. |
Magnetic resonance |
Phenomenon resulting in the absorption and/or emission of electromagnetic energy by nuclei or electrons in a static magnetic field, after excitation by a radiofrequency magnetic field. |
Magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) |
Imaging of the flow of blood in the arteries and veins of the body. Clinical applications in infants include evaluation of arteriovenous malformations, vascular accidents (strokes), and assessment of carotid artery blood flow following extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) therapy. |
Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) |
Utilizes the principle that nuclei in different chemical structures have different characteristic resonance patterns, or spectra. MRS is used to study brain biochemistry and metabolism. Clinical applications in the newborn include hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy and inborn errors of metabolism. Often performed in conjunction with MRI. |
Missile effect |
Occurs when a ferromagnetic object rapidly and forcefully accelerates into the bore of a magnet. Also called the projectile effect. |
MR-safe |
The device, when used in the MR environment, has been demonstrated to present no additional risk to the patient, but may affect the quality of the diagnostic information. |
MR-compatible |
The device, when used in the MR environment, is MR safe and has been demonstrated to neither significantly affect the quality of the diagnostic information nor have its operations affected by the MR system. |
Radiofrequency electromagnetic energy |
Electromagnetic waves with a frequency band in the electromagnetic spectrum, or the same general range as that used for transmission of radio and television signals. |
Radiofrequency pulse |
Burst of RF energy delivered by the RF transmitter. These low-frequency pulses generate the signal that is measured during each scan. They also generate the heat associated with MRI (estimated by the specific absorption rate or SAR). |
Room shielding |
Magnetic shielding with high permeability in the walls, floor, and ceiling of the magnet room; can be complete or partial depending on the need to reduce the fringe field. |
Rotational force |
Twisting (torque) that occurs when a ferrous object attempts to align itself with the north-south orientation of the MRI magnet. Rotational force is greatest at the center of the magnetic field. |
Quench |
An unexpected loss of superconductivity caused by rapid increase in resisitivity of the magnet. Generates heat resulting in boiling off and rapid evaporation of cryogen (liquid helium). Can cause damage to the magnet and anoxic conditions in the atmosphere of the magnet room if not properly vented. |
Specific absorption rate (SAR) |
Energy deposited in tissues in the form of heat from the use of rapidly changing electromagnetic fields. The SAR is the amount of energy dissipated in the tissues, in watts per kg of tissue mass. Inhomogeneity of the RF field can lead to a local exposure where most of the power is absorbed by one body region. SAR limits (averages) are established by the FDA, usually per unit of time. |
Static magnetic field |
A component of the MR environment that is always present, even when the scanner is not imaging. This static magnetic field is typically between 0.2 and 2.0 tesla (T) measured in the center of the magnet bore. A 1.0 T magnet's static magnetic field would be roughly 20,000 times stronger than the earth's magnetic field. |
Superconducting magnet |
A type of magnet that has no electrical resistance when operated at temperatures near absolute zero. |
Tesla |
The preferred (standard international or SI) unit of magnetic flux density. |
Time-varying magnetic fields (TVMFs) |
Also called gradients, these are magnetic field changes introduced to spatially encode the MR signal during a scan. TVMFs can induce currents in conductive material lying within the rapidly changing magnetic field, such as muscles, nerves, and blood vessels of the human body, which are all conductive materials. TVMFs are also the source of loud noises within the scanner. |
Translational force |
The attraction that acts to draw an object linearly into the center of the magnet; it is the force that causes the projectile or missile effect. |
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