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Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a
medical imaging technique used in
radiology to form pictures of the
anatomy and the physiological processes of the body.
MRI scanners use strong
magnetic fields, magnetic field gradients, and
radio waves to generate images of the organs in the body. The magnetic field temporarily realigns
hydrogen atoms in the body.
Radio waves cause
these aligned atoms to produce very faint signals, which are used to
create cross-sectional MRI images — like slices in a loaf of bread.
Animation of a half-wave dipole antenna radiating radio waves, showing the electric field lines. The antenna in the center is two vertical metal rods connected to a radio transmitter (not shown). The transmitter applies an alternating electric current to the rods, which charges them alternately positive (+) and negative (−). Loops of electric field leave the antenna and travel away at the speed of light; these are the radio waves. In this animation the action is shown slowed down enormously.
Nikola Tesla discovered the
Rotating Magnetic Field in
Budapest,
Hungary, in 1882. It was the basis for the
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to come some 90 years later.
Nikola Tesla has been honored with the international unit of
magnetic flux density called "Tesla". All
magnetic resonance imaging
(MRI) machines are calibrated with Tesla Unit (from .2 Tesla to 9
Tesla). MRI machines work on the principle of a homogeneous magnet
field. The Tesla Unit for magnetism was established in 1956 in the
Rathaus of Munich,
Germany by the
International Electrotechnical Commission Committee in Action.
Because of the tremendous importance of the MRI technology and
widespread use of the MRI machines around the world, which are all
calibrated in Tesla Units, Tesla's name connected with the MRI will be
known more and more in the future and the years to come.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is extremely important for medical
diagnosis of internal organs of the human body, especially the diagnosis
of
cancer,
tumors,
degenerative diseases of the brain and spinal cord.
The modern diagnosis of the internal organs of the human body would be
today unthinkable without MRI. MRI machines are widespread with many
variations in size and capacity all around the world.
MRI employs a strong homogeneous magnetic field and specific radio
frequency to which many elements, especially hydrogen nuclei respond
with radio frequency signals. These signals are analyzed by computer
reconstruction
algorithms. The healthy tissue and
pathological tissue
have different radio frequency signals and produce different images on
MRI. Therefore enable us to make diagnosis of pathological tissues of
the body.
MRI has the advantage over
CT scan, it uses no
ionizing radiation and
does not cause cumulative harm. The only
contraindication of those
related to the high magnetic field. Magnetic-sensitive objects like
pacemakers, watches and magnetic tapes are contraindicated.
In
orthopedics, an MRI may be used to examine bones, joints, and soft tissues such as
cartilage, muscles, and tendons for injuries or the presence of structural
abnormalities or certain other conditions, such as tumors, inflammatory
disease,
congenital abnormalities,
osteonecrosis, bone marrow disease, and
herniation or degeneration of discs of the spinal cord. MRI may be used to
assess the results of corrective orthopedic procedures. Joint deterioration
resulting from
arthritis
may be monitored by using magnetic resonance imaging.
The revenue of
MRI machines sales was 1.46 billion dollars in 2002. However,
Nikola Tesla
nor his descendants ever realized a cent from all this as Tesla
intended to have his inventions free to mankind for its betterment so
never took out patents. His inventions were patented by other men who
then profited from them, one of whom was
Thomas A. Edison (
links below).
Viewfinder links:
Thomas Edison
Net links:
YouTube link: