MRI
- Created by: cjt123
- Created on: 14-04-16 12:16
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- MRI
- How it Works
- Surrounding the patient is a magnetic field produced by a super-conducting magnet and radio coils
- A pulse of radio waves is emitted by the coils which causes the hydrogen nuclei to flip to their higher energy state
- The radio waves are switched off and as the nuclei return to their lower energy state they emit radio signals
- These signals are detected and processed by a computer to provide a display of the tissues in the body
- The radio waves are switched off and as the nuclei return to their lower energy state they emit radio signals
- Disadvantages
- The strong magnetic field requires special safety measures with regards to metal objects
- A scan can take up to 20 mins
- Can be noisy and frightening
- Very expensive to cool superconductors used to produce the magenetic field using liquid helium
- Advantages
- Uses radio waves and not ionising radiation so is thought to be safe
- Can produce images that allow very fine detail to be seen
- MRI can reveal the small differences between tissues that are very similar
- Uses
- Used to identify tumours
- Can identify multiple sclerosis
- Used to examine the anatomy of the brain
- Often used on athletes to identify ligament damage and problems in the joints
- How it Works
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