Doctoral School

Magnetic Resonance Imaging: Basic MRI Physics

Target group

PhD students of the Doctoral School of Life Sciences and Medicine, (Bioscience) Engineering and Social and Behavioural Sciences who are current and/or future users of the MRI scanner at the GIfMI facility.

No previous knowledge of MR physics is assumed.

Abstract

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a medical imaging technique used to produce high quality images of the body. Knowledge of the underpinning fundamentals of MRI is essential for every user – irrespective of previous experience. This course will prepare current and future PhD students for the use of the MRI scanner available at GifMI (Ghent Institute for Functional and Metabolic Imaging), a UGent research collaboration.

Topic

This course will provide the MRI user with a sound understanding of the practical process, hardware components, basic physical principles of MR imaging (localization of signal and generation of contrast) and digital signal sampling to generate an image from RF signals. It will provide basic physical principles that underpin MRI and of the many different data acquisition strategies in MRI.

Organiser

GIfMI (Ghent Institute for functional and Metabolic Imaging)
Prof. Dr. Ir. Pim Pullens
Faculty: EA06 / GE32
Department: Diagnostic Sciences
E-mail: pim.pullens@ugent.be

Other members of the organising & scientific committee

Msc. Stephanie Bogaert (UZ Gent – MRI radiographer/MRI research assistant)
Ing. Pieter Vandemaele (UGent ATP – MRI engineer)

Dates & Venue

21-22 September 2022  •  Campus UZ Gent auditorium C (ingang 48)

Program

  • I. MRI in practice II: Setting the scene
    • a) What is MRI?
    • b) What is possible with MRI?
    • c) Practical process of obtaining an image (MR tech in practice)
    • d) Hardware II.
  • II. Basic MR physics I: Localizing the signal
    • a) Electromagnetic fields: basics
    • b) Digital signals and sampling
    • c) Fourier
    • d) K-space
    • e) Spatial encoding
    • f) Overview: from signal to image
  • III. Basic MR physics II: Generating contrast
    • a) Sending and receiving energy: proton excitation, resonance and relaxation
    • b) Pulse sequences, parameters and image weighting: spin echo (TR, TE), and gradient echo (flip angle)
  • IV. MRI in practice II: Putting it all together
    • a) Contrast generation and influence on the signal
    • b) Parameter interaction and resulting image c. SNR and artefacts (basics)
  • V. MRI in practice III: I have my images…then what?
    • a) Dicom
    • b) Nifti

Lecturers

  • Prof. Dr. Ir. Pim Pullens    

Affiliation: UZ Gent MRI physicist / UGent voluntary employee   
Graduated in Biomedical Engineering in 2006 at TU Eindhoven, PhD in cognitive neuroscience in 2012, worked as a biomedical engineer/software developer for Brain Innovation BV (Maastricht) and as a consultant for Icometrix a spin-off company that offers advanced image processing for quantitative analysis of biomedical images. Currently at work as MRI physicist in UZ Gent. He has a network of MRI specialists all over the world.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/pim-pullens-bba9411/

  • Ing. Pieter Vandemaele    

Affiliation: UGent ATP    
Graduated as industrial engineer electronics (Vives) in 1998 and as MSc in computer Science (UGent) in 2000. He started working for the hospital’s radiology department right after graduating, teaching PhD students and MRI users how to safely use an MRI scanner since 2000.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/pieter-vandemaele/

  • Stephanie Bogaert MSc    

Affiliation: UZ Gent MRI radiographer/MRI research assistant    
Graduated as a professional bachelor in medical imaging (Odisee) in 2007, started working in the clinical MRI department of UZ Gent that houses three MRI scanners and combined this with the master in care management. Moved to the scientific environment of GIfMI in 2013 to support PhD Students in the practical use of the MRI scanner. Also president of the Flemish Radiographer Society (VMBv) and guest lecturer at Odisee bachelor in medical imaging.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanie-bogaert-63309385/

Registration

Please follow this link: https://webappsx.ugent.be/eventManager/events/BasicMRIPhysics

Registration fee

Free of charge for members of the Doctoral Schools of Life Sciences and Medicine, (Bioscience) Engineering and Social and Behavioural Sciences.

Maximum number of participants

maximum 80 participants 

Teaching methods

Each module consists of a presentation in form of a live lecture given by experienced teachers and additionally offers the possibility of direct interaction with the speaker with question/answer time at the end of each module.

Evaluation criteria (doctoral training programme)

100% attendance and active participation. GIfMI will award a certificate to successful candidates who attended a 100%, that gives the permission to scan at the GIfMI facility after an individually tailored practical training on site by the GIfMI research assistant.