Sequence Parameters & Options Flashcards
What is the difference in SNR between 2 adjacent pixels (eye’s ability to detect difference)
CNR
Which parameter has the greatest influence on image quality
CNR
CNR is controlled by all the same factors as what
SNR
What is the ratio of signal amplitude to average noise amplitude called
SNR
Is signal predictable
yes
The induced voltage at the receiver coil is referred to as what
signal
Is noise predictible
no, it’s random
What is noise dependent on
body habitus & electrical noise of the system
What parameter has the greatest influence on SNR
size of FOV
What is the ability of the imaging system to detect 2 points as separate
spatial resolution
Which pixel types give better spatial resolution: square or rectangular
square
What is the amount of tissue within a 3 D volume called
voxel volume
What determines voxel volume
FOV, matrix & slice thickness
What determines spatial resolution
voxel volume only
Formula for voxel volume
pixel phase x pixel frequency x slice thickness
What is the voxel volume when using a 24cm FOV, a 256x128 matrix & 3mm slices?
(240mm/256) x (240mm/128) x 3 = 5.27mm³
Which provide better spatial resolution - square or rectangular pixels
square
Which pixel type is better for reformatting 2D/3D images - square or rectangular
square
What is the amount of time it takes to fill k-space called
acquisition time
What has the greatest impact on the amount of patient motion detected on an image
acquisition time
What parameters affect acquisition time
TR, NSA/NEX, phase matrix, ETL & # of slices (during 3D only)
What is the formula to calculate 2D acquisition time for conventional sequences
TR x NSA x Phase encodings
500ms x 1 x 256 = 128,000ms = 128sec = 2min 8 sec
What is the formula to calculate 2D acquisition time for fast sequences
(TR x NSA x Phase encodings)/ETL
(500ms x 1 x 256)/4 = 32,000ms = 32sec
What is the formula to calculate 3D acquisition time for conventional sequences
TR x NSA x Phase encodings x slice #
500ms x 1 x 256 x 24 = 3,072,000ms = 3,072sec = 51min 12sec
List the 7 intrinsic parameters
T1 recovery T2 decay proton density flow ADC perfusion diffusion
List the 8 extrinsic parameters
TR TE flip angle TI ETL b value FOV matrix
What are the 3 types of image contrast
T1
T2
PD
Which type of contrast appears as a difference in signal intensities between tissues with varying hydrogen proton concentrations
proton density contrast
What is the objective when trying to achieve T1 weighting
prevent recovery and decay
What is the objective when trying to achieve T2 weighting
allow recovery and decay
What are the TR & TE requirements for a T1 weighted image
short TR & TE
What are the TR & TE requirements for a T2 weighted image
long TR & TE
T1 images are dependent upon the differences between what
the T1 relaxation times of fat & water
T2 images are dependent upon the differences between what
the T2 decay times of fat & water
Proton density images are dependent upon the differences between what
the number of mobile hydrogen protons within adjacent tissues
What is the objective when trying to achieve PD weighting
allow recovery & prevent decay
What are the TR & TE requirements for a PD weighted image
long TR & short TE
What are the TR & TE requirements for a T2* weighted image
long TR & TE with use of a gradient echo sequence
T2* images are dependent upon what
T2 decay & magnetic field inhomogeneities
What controls T2* weighting
TE
What is TR
repetition time - the time between alpha pulses, measured in ms
What is TE
echo time - time between alpha pulse and peak of the echo, measured in ms
What is TI
time of inversion - time between 180° inversion pulse and 90° alpha pulse that nulls signal from specific tissues during IR sequence
What controls the amount of T1 contrast on T1 IR pulse sequences
TI & TR
What controls which tissues will be nulled on T2 IR pulse sequences
TI
Define NSA
number of signals averaged - number of times data is collected per TR period
How are NSA & scan time related
directly proportional: double NSA=double time
How are NSA & SNR related
square root relationship:
2 x NSA = 41% SNR increase (√2 = 1.41),
4 x NSA = 100% SNR increase (√4 = 2)
What is the angle of the NMV to the direction of the main magnetic field called
flip angle
Which flip angles produce more signal
those closer to 90°
What is flip angle controlled by
the amplitude and duration of incoming RF pulses
Define FOV
area of anatomy covered in an image
What does FOV have the greatest impact on
SNR
What relationship does FOV have with SNR
FOV has a directly squared relationship with SNR:
2 x FOV = 4 times the signal (2² = 4)
1/2 the FOV = 1/4th the signal (0.5² =.25)
What is the total number of pixels in an image called
the matrix
Define phase matrix
of pixels in phase direction (has a direct affect on scan time)
Which matrix affects scan time (phase or frequency)
phase
The phase matrix affects what
scan time
Define frequency matrix
of pixels in frequency direction (has no affect on scan time)
What parameter limits the number of slices allowed
TR
What factors determine how many slices are allowed
TR & the systems SAR limitations
When does slice number affect scan time
only during 3D volumetric imaging
Does a higher TR produce more or less RF pulses
less
Does a higher TR produce more or less time between RF pulses
more
If you increase the TR, does more or less tissue heating occur
less
Will a higher TR increase or decrease the # of allowable slices
increase, because less tissue heating will occur which keeps the system below its SAR limits
What determines slice thickness
the slope of the slice select gradient and the transmitted bandwidth
How are thin slices produced
with a steep slice select gradient slope and/or a narrow transmit bandwidth
How are thick slices produced
with a shallow slice select gradient slope and/or a broad transmit bandwidth
How is gap determined
by the thickness of the slice as well as the corresponding slice select gradient slope
What is gap important for reducing
image artifact (cross excitation)
The number of times the echo is sampled per TR period during SE pulse sequences is called
ETL
ETL corresponds to what
the number of rephasing 180° RF pulses applied
When can effective TE be chosen
during fast spin echo techniques (since you can’t choose the TE value for each echo in the train of 180° RF rephasing pulses)
In a fast spin echo technique, echos closest to the effective TE selected are place where in K space
the center of K space (where they affect image contrast)
In a fast spin echo technique, echos not close to the effective TE selected are place where in K space
the periphery of K space (where they affect spatial resolution)
During FSE sequences, effective TE is a factor that determines what
image weighting
Values in the middle of K space affect what
image contrast
Values in the periphery of K space affect what
spatial resolution
The range of frequencies transmitted in an RF pulse is called
transmit bandwidth
Which bandwidth (transmit/receive) is automatically selected by the system upon slice thickness selection
transmit
The range of frequencies sampled during the time that the readout/frequency gradient is active is called
receive bandwidth
Receive bandwidth has what kind of relationship with SNR
square root (+/- √ of the increase or decrease factor) 2 x receive bandwidth = 41% signal loss (-√ 2) 1/2 x receive bandwidth = 41% signal gain (+√ 2)
Does receive bandwidth affect the minimum TE
yes
If you decrease the receive bandwidth, what happens to the minimum TE that is obtainable during a pulse sequence
the minimum obtainable TE increases
If you decrease the receive bandwidth, the minimum TE obtainable increases - what image weighting could this affect
T1 (need short TE)
The parameter that divides a sequence into multiple acquisitions is called
concatenations
If you increase concatenations, what affect does it have on TR
allows the use of a lower TR (limited by SAR)
Increasing concatenations has what affect on motion artifact
reduces it (bc it shortens acquisition time)
What is the time between alpha pulses, measured in ms called
TR
What is the time between alpha pulse and peak of the echo, measured in ms
TE
What is the time between 180° inversion pulse and 90° alpha pulse that nulls signal from specific tissues during IR sequence
TI
What is the number of times data is collected per TR period called
NSA
The slope of the slice select gradient and the transmitted bandwidth determine what
slice thickness
A steep slice select gradient slope and/or a narrow transmit bandwidth produce what kind of slices
thin slices
A shallow slice select gradient slope and/or a broad transmit bandwidth produce what kind of slices
thick slices