Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is a non-invasive medical imaging technique that uses a magnetic field and radio waves to create detailed images of the organs and tissues inside your body. MRI does not use radiation (x-rays).

Where does it come from?

The history of MRI can be traced back to the 1940s, when physicists Isidor Rabi, Edward Purcell, and Felix Bloch independently discovered nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). NMR is a phenomenon in which the nuclei of certain atoms absorb and emit radio waves when placed in a strong magnetic field.

In the 1960s, Raymond Damadian, a chemist and physician, began to explore the potential of NMR for medical imaging. He hypothesized that cancerous cells could be distinguished from healthy tissue based on their different NMR properties. In 1971, Damadian published a paper in Nature reporting that he had successfully used NMR to distinguish between cancer cells and normal cells in a mouse.

In the early 1970s, Paul Lauterbur and Peter Mansfield independently developed new MRI techniques that allowed for the creation of two-dimensional images. In 1977, the first whole-body MRI scan was performed on a human patient.

MRI machines became commercially available in the early 1980s, and the technology has continued to evolve rapidly in the years since. Today, MRI is one of the most widely used medical imaging techniques in the world.

MRI has had a major impact on the diagnosis and treatment of a wide range of medical conditions. It is now used to diagnose and monitor cancer, heart disease, stroke, neurological disorders, and other conditions. MRI is also used to guide minimally invasive surgical procedures.

MRI is a safe and non-invasive imaging technique that has revolutionized the field of medicine. It is a powerful tool that allows doctors to see inside the body without the use of radiation.

How does MRI work?

• MRI works by exploiting the magnetic properties of water molecules. The human body is made up of about 60% water, so MRI can be used to image almost any part of the body.
• When you lie inside an MRI scanner, the powerful magnetic field aligns the hydrogen atoms in your body. A radiofrequency (RF) pulse is then applied, which causes the hydrogen atoms to flip. When the RF pulse is turned off, the hydrogen atoms return to their original alignment, emitting a radio signal.
• The MRI scanner detects these radio signals and uses them to create detailed images of the inside of your body.