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| Magnetic
resonance imaging is the medical specialty which uses electromagnetic
waves having energies well below that required to ionize atoms.
The technique of MRI uses the radio portion of the electromagnetic
spectrum wherein photons have relatively long wavelengths
thus reducing, if not eliminating, the threat of biological
harm to the patient. It is a dynamic and evergrowing field
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medical
imaging which will continue to grow and evolve in the years
to come. The advantages of MRI over other medical imaging
modalities include superior contrast resolution and multiplanar
imaging capabilities along with the absence of ionizing
radiation. The patient lies on a bed, placed in a strong
magnetic field, causing protons which have a magnetic component
to become aligned and to precess. Then a radiofrequency
pulse is transmitted into the patient at the same frequency
with which the proton is precessing. This takes place with
controlled and prescribed conditions. The patient responds
by emitting a radio signal that is computer processed to
produce an image.
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Magnetic
resonance imaging had its beginnings in the work of Felix
Bloch in the late 40's. During the 60's and 70's with the
contributions of Raymond Damadian and Paul Lauterbur, magnetic
resonance imaging developed into an effective tool in chemical
research and development. The first body image was accomplished
in 1976, which took almost 4 hours to produce. Rapid advances
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allows images to be produced in minutes with many variations
in the acquisition sequences. |
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