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Low‐field MRI: An MR physics perspective
Author(s) -
Marques José P.,
Simonis Frank F.J.,
Webb Andrew G.
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
journal of magnetic resonance imaging
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.563
H-Index - 160
eISSN - 1522-2586
pISSN - 1053-1807
DOI - 10.1002/jmri.26637
Subject(s) - computer science , field (mathematics) , perspective (graphical) , magnetic resonance imaging , medical physics , physics of magnetic resonance imaging , noise (video) , image quality , magnet , physics , artificial intelligence , medicine , radiology , mathematics , spin echo , image (mathematics) , quantum mechanics , pure mathematics , relaxometry
Historically, clinical MRI started with main magnetic field strengths in the ∼0.05–0.35T range. In the past 40 years there have been considerable developments in MRI hardware, with one of the primary ones being the trend to higher magnetic fields. While resulting in large improvements in data quality and diagnostic value, such developments have meant that conventional systems at 1.5 and 3T remain relatively expensive pieces of medical imaging equipment, and are out of the financial reach for much of the world. In this review we describe the current state‐of‐the‐art of low‐field systems (defined as 0.25–1T), both with respect to its low cost, low foot‐print, and subject accessibility. Furthermore, we discuss how low field could potentially benefit from many of the developments that have occurred in higher‐field MRI. In the first section, the signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR) dependence on the static magnetic field and its impact on the achievable contrast, resolution, and acquisition times are discussed from a theoretical perspective. In the second section, developments in hardware (eg, magnet, gradient, and RF coils) used both in experimental low‐field scanners and also those that are currently in the market are reviewed. In the final section the potential roles of new acquisition readouts, motion tracking, and image reconstruction strategies, currently being developed primarily at higher fields, are presented. Level of Evidence : 5 Technical Efficacy Stage : 1 J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2019.