2011 Volume 80 Issue 2 Pages 91-96
This paper describes the fundamentals of MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) and current related technologies. MRI measures the chemical structure distributed in biological tissues to reconstruct a two- or three-dimensional image. From the reconstructed image, the geometry and functions of biological tissues are analyzed. The basic principle of MRI is that the phase of magnetized spin depends on the applied magnetic field. Several imaging technologies based on this phenomenon have already been developed including MRI, MRS (MR spectroscopy), MRA (MR angiography), CSI (chemical shift imaging), MRSI (MR spectroscopic imaging), DPI (diffusion/perfusion imaging), f MRI (functional MRI) and tractography. New technologies such as MRE (MR elastography) for the imaging of mechanical characteristics, hyperpolarized MRI for high-sensitivity imaging and MRT (MR treatment) for navigated medical treatment are also now being actively studied.
