 Magnet resonance systems used in many hospitals
Added: 10/17/2005 |
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To get a detailed image of patients' inner organs, new and very perspective magnet resonance systems are used instead of usual x-ray systems today. Unlike x-ray this achievement of nuclear medicine does not expose a patient to the dangerous radiation. These magnet resonance systems also allow getting images of some tissues much clearer than x-ray systems can provide with.
A new method of getting images of inner organs is coming into use. This method is called magnetic resonance imaging or magnetic resonance tomography. The name of magnet resonance systems came from the effect their work is based on - nuclear magnetic resonance. The very first name suggested for the system was actually "nuclear magnetic resonance imaging". But to avoid any correlation with dangerous radiation from nuclear physics (people might have thought about nuclear medicine and that it could be even more dangerous than x-rays) the word nuclear was dropped soon after that.
In many other sectors, this technique is stilled called "nuclear magnetic resonance." So, to get the picture a patient is placed into a strong magnetic field. That static magnetic field causes nuclei of hydrogen in water molecules to rotate according to their spin (there are also zero spin nuclei which do not change their vector). Then pulses of radio frequency are applied. These radio frequency electro-magnetic pulses turn hydrogen nuclei into exited states. And then as the nuclei turn back into relaxed states they emit energy. The image of the tissue that contains hydrogen can be construed. Making several measurements around the patients it is possible to get a 3-d picture of the inner organs of the patient's body.
Magnet resonance systems comparing to other systems for the picturing of inner organs is safer because it allows looking inside the patient without exposing him (her) to dangerous radiation like in x-ray systems. Magnet resonance systems can also give clear images of different tissues that can't be captured with other techniques even with x-rays. Magnet resonance systems can even show the blood flow if several pictures are built in a sequence. But such nuclear medicine picturing has contraindications, it cannot be performed on patients with metal implants (or if any ferromagnetic material is present in the body) because pretty strong magnetic field can move this metal object inside the body and cause a trauma.
The procedure of taking pictures with magnet resonance systems is pretty easy. You will usually have an appointment before the scanning and doctor will explain to you the entire process and give recommendations about it. Probably, you will be asked not to eat several hours before the scanning. Also to get a clearer picture a contrast material is needed, so you will be offered to drink such substance. Needless to say, all the metal objects have to be removed from your body.
Different magnet resonance systems have been in use for several years now and there have been no signs of any side effect. So, the use of magnet resonance systems can be considered to be pretty safe for health. Magnet resonance is a pretty new method comparing to other systems of inner organs imaging, such as x-rays and computer tomography but it allows getting just the same or evening clearer picture without dangerous radiation of x-rays or Computerized Tomography.
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