ASSIGNMENT CHM 524 (PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY)

TITLE : MRI MACHINES.

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1.0. Introduction

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is an application in medicine to scan the images of the
structure and organs in the body clearly. Basically, this type of machine is usually used in the
hospital for diagnosing patient’s diseases, so the advanced treatment could be prepared if the
disease is tracked. To be specific, MRI is a non-invasive imaging method that generates three-
dimensional anatomical images. It is frequently employed in disease detection, diagnosis, and
therapy monitoring. It is based on advanced technology that excites and detects changes in the
rotational axis of protons in the water that makes up biological tissues.

Diagram 1
MRI machines do not require X-ray radiation as it is only indispensable for radio waves, magnetic
fields and computers to generate or detect the problems in a patient's body. It is different from the
CT scan where CT scans use X-ray pictures, and produce images of the scanned area. Usually,
MRI machines are used for certain diseases while the CT scan cannot be detected.

There are many types of MRI machines, one of them is closed MRI. This type of MRI is said to be
very efficient where it applies high-quality magnetic field strength and produces the great images
after scanning, and diagnoses the better diseases. Next, the wide bore MRI which is providing a
large space for the patient who has a sizable build. Unfortunately, the images produced are not
high-quality compared to the closed MRI and have a low magnetic field which is 1.5T. The other
type of MRI machine is truly-open MRI which it is designing open on every side to provide for
increased airflow and ventilation [1].

Ordinarily, MRI is used to diagnose the diseases by scanning the organs, tissues and skeletal.
There are various types of diseases that MRI functions for. Commonly, MRI is used to scan or
detect the brain and spinal cord which creates visual representations of blood flow to particular
brain regions. It can be used to investigate the structure of the brain and identify the regions of it
responsible for crucial functions. Other than that, MRI also focuses on ascertaining the heart and
blood vessels, checking internal organs and helping to detect bones and joints. Plus, those
patients who have breast cancer also can use the MRI machines which helps to determine the
presence of the cancer.
2.0. Process

As stated above, MRI does not use radiation but requires magnetic fields, radio waves and
computers to complete its images to scan. The radio spectrum, which spans a vast range of
frequencies from a few Hertz to three THz, includes each specific radio frequency [7]. When a
patient lies on the inside of an MRI, it will detect our body as it is used to scan problems and
diseases. In the electromagnetic spectrum, radio waves have the longest wavelengths. These
waves, which fall under the category of electromagnetic radiation, range in frequency from 300
GHz to 3 kHz, yet they are sometimes referred to as microwaves if their frequency is higher than
3 GHz. The wavelength varies between 1 mm at 300 GHz and 100 km at 3 kHz. The same as all
other electromagnetic waves, they move at the speed of light. The waves that have naturally
occurred have all been caused by lightning or celestial objects. Radio communication, radar,
computer networks, broadcasting, various navigation systems, and other uses all employ
artificially created radio waves. [4]

Before going into details on how it works, only six elements make up the majority of the human
body: oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen, carbon, calcium, and phosphorus. The remaining mass is
composed of sulfur, potassium, sodium, chlorine, and magnesium, which together make up
around 0.85% of the total mass (Diagram 2). These 11 components are all necessary
components. Trace elements make up the remaining 0.15 percent of the human body. The mass
of magnesium, the least prevalent of the non-trace elements, cannot be calculated using the total
masses of the trace elements. Based on laboratory research, a dozen or so of the trace elements
may be necessary for life. [2] And up to 62% of the human body comprises water, H 2O and this
shows the presence of hydrogen atoms (single protons) which will be used in imaging purposes.

Diagram 2
Hydrogen is the important thing when involving the magnetic field because due to the proton's
spin in a hydrogen atom, a weak magnetic field is produced by hydrogen atoms. Some of these
protons change in their magnetic moments, which measure how likely they are to align with a
magnetic field, and align with the direction of the field when a human enters the scanner's strong
magnetic field. Generally, the hydrogen is more comparable to the planet earth, where it has north
and south poles and spin on its own axis.
 Diagram 3 Diagram 3.1

The axes of the protons align when the body is positioned in a high magnetic field, such as an
MRI scanner. A magnetic vector that is aligned along the axis of the MRI scanner is produced by
this uniform alignment. Different field strengths, typically between 0.5 and 1.5 tesla, are available
for MRI scanners [3] (Diagram 3.1).

To be specific, MRI machines consist of 3 parts which are the magnet, radio waves, gradient and
computer. First and foremost, the MRI started when the big magnet needed to synthesize an
amalgamated magnetic field around the patient’s body and the gradient function as adjusting the
magnetic field into the smaller sections of different magnetic fields to isolate specific body parts.
For example, the brain, body, and legs. At first, the water molecules in the body parts are initially
distributed randomly in the body, but when MRI machines produce a strong magnetic field, most
of the water molecules will move at the same frequencies as the magnetic field. However, there
are some water molecules that do not move together with the magnetic field or it is known as “low-
energy water molecules”. Next, the machine focuses on the low-energy water molecules in order
to produce the image of the body parts.The magnetic fields in MRI scanners have the same
frequency as radio waves, which send radio waves that resonance with the magnetic field and
provide low-energy water molecules the energy they need to move in tandem with the magnetic
field. The water molecules that had been traveling through the magnetic field release the energy
they had been absorbing and return to their original positions as soon as the equipment stops
releasing its radio waves. As a result, the MRI machines pick up on this movement, sending a
signal to a powerful computer that utilizes imaging software to turn the data into a picture of the
body. The machines will create a final three-dimensional image of the organ that doctors may
examine and draw a diagnosis from by obtaining photographs of the body in each area of the
magnetic field.
3.0. Challenges

There are some challenges with using MRI machines that sometimes happen.
● MRI takes more time than CT scan.
 Generally, MRI scans took up to one hour or longer. The typical MRI procedure lasts 20
to 40 minutes. The system needs several minutes to obtain these slices while it is taking
hundreds or perhaps thousands of photographs. It also scans coronal, axial (top to
bottom), and sagittal (right to left) (front to back). For the duration of the banging noises,
you must remain motionless because any movement distorts the images and makes it
harder for the radiologist to read the data. On the other hand, MRI needs to examine
patients for a long time because during MRI treatment, patients need to control their breath
as directed along the procedure. However, if one patient needs to examine his or her
thoracic region, he must control his breath and stay still during the examination. It will be
harder for doctors if the images produced are blurred because of the movements. The
technician will repeatedly instruct you to hold your breath and remain motionless in order
to take clear photos. Each time, you'll be asked to hold your breath for 20 seconds. This
step is crucial because without sufficient air holding, we cannot perform the MRI study.

● MRI is expensive than CT scan.

MRI machines are quite categorized in high-technology, thus it is required more money to
invest on these machines. This is because MRI is more complex than CT scan and X-ray
in terms of installation methods, components of each machine and others. Since MRI is
an advanced technology that is used in most hospitals nowadays, it is exorbitant to
operate and maintain. Million-dollar equipment requires expensive yearly maintenance,
but that is just the beginning. MRIs utilize a lot of electricity because they have strong
magnetic fields and use liquid helium to cool them. According to the U.S. Energy
Information Administration and a research by PE International, an average MRI scan uses
15 kWh, or roughly half the energy consumed by a typical U.S. home in a day. The same
study discovered that each machine was using roughly ten times as much electricity
everyday as a normal U.S. home, scanning an average of 21 patients per day. Patients
may also receive an injection of a contrast dye containing the rare-earth element
gadolinium during some MRI scans. This dye improves the scan's clarity but can also add
hundreds of costs. [5]
4.0. Benefits

There are also some advantages of these MRI machines which could help doctors to examine
their patients’ diseases and give the best continuous treatment for their patients.

● MRI does not use radiation but uses magnetic fields and radio waves.
There are many ways that radiation can impact the body. The type of radiation, how and
how long the person was exposed, as well as the dose—the amount of radiation absorbed
by the body—determine the health impacts. Radiation exposure at high doses might result
in severe sickness or skin burns. When it comes to radiation, there are some risks that
could affect one patient during the treatment. For example, hair loss, damages of heart
 and brain, thyroid and reproductive tract. Thus, there is an alternative to treat patients in
a better way by treating patients with MRI machines where they produce coherent images
of the problems in the body. In short, MRI could detect each problem by using the imaging
techniques using an application of magnetic field and radio waves. Radiation sometimes
gives benefits in medication application which can slowly kill the growth of cancer cells but
if we look at the side effects, it may cause damage to our healthy cells.

● MRI takes wide-ranging pictures.

A specific area of your body is normally imaged when you get an x-ray taken. For instance,
if you're going to the doctor for your leg, the x-ray can be taken of your ankle or knee. The
ability of an MRI to simultaneously acquire pictures of several body parts is one of its main
advantages. A smaller imaging device wouldn't be able to cover the greater parts of your
body that an MRI can. On the other hand, MRI also captures the clear images.An MRI can
produce more detailed images than other imaging devices. Body soft tissue can be
visualized in great detail using MRI equipment. This makes it easier for your doctor to
determine what might be hurting or inconveniencing you [6]

CT scan MRI images

5.0. References.

1. Mri, T. (2021, June 11). What are the different types of MRI scanners? TOP MRI.
Retrieved January 5, 2023., from https://topmri.com/what-are-the-different-types-of-mri-
scanners/
2. Davey, Reginald. (2021, May 19). What Chemical Elements are Found in the Human Body?.
News-Medical. Retrieved on January 05, 2023 from https://www.news-medical.net/life-
sciences/What-Chemical-Elements-are-Found-in-the-Hum an-Body.aspx.
3. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) | Johns
Hopkins Medicine. (2021, December 6). Retrieved January 6, 2023, from
 https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/treatment-tests-and-therapies/magnetic-
resonan ce-imaging-mri
4. Admin. (2022, June 8). Radio waves - bands of radio waves and radio propagation:
Byju's. BYJUS. Retrieved January 6, 2023, from https://byjus.com/physics/radio-waves/

5. Why are mris so expensive at hospitals? Heartland Imaging. (2021, March 19).
Retrieved January 7, 2023, from https://heartlandimagingcenters.com/2021/03/19/why-
are-mris-so-expensive-at-hospitals
/
6. Amory Urgent Care. (2020, May 26). 7 advantages of MRI over X-ray. Amory Urgent
Care. Retrieved January 7, 2023, from https://amoryurgentcare.com/what-are-the-
advantages-of-an-mri-over-an-x-ray/
7. Saakian, A. (2020). Radio wave propagation fundamentals. Artech House. Retrieved
January 9, 2023.