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Medical imaging

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Medical imaging is the technique and process of imaging the interior of a body for clinical analysis and medical intervention, as well as visual representation of the function of some organs or tissues ( physiology ). Medical imaging seeks to reveal internal structures hidden by the skin and bones, as well as to diagnose and treat disease . Medical imaging also establishes a database of normal anatomy and physiology to make it possible to identify abnormalities. Although imaging of removed organs and tissues can be performed for medical reasons, such procedures are usually considered part of pathology instead of medical imaging.

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140-701: Measurement and recording techniques that are not primarily designed to produce images , such as electroencephalography (EEG), magnetoencephalography (MEG), electrocardiography (ECG), and others, represent other technologies that produce data susceptible to representation as a parameter graph versus time or maps that contain data about the measurement locations. In a limited comparison, these technologies can be considered forms of medical imaging in another discipline of medical instrumentation . As of 2010, 5 billion medical imaging studies had been conducted worldwide. Radiation exposure from medical imaging in 2006 made up about 50% of total ionizing radiation exposure in

280-556: A brain imaging technique. Using superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles , magnetic particle imaging ( MPI ) is a developing diagnostic imaging technique used for tracking superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles . The primary advantage is the high sensitivity and specificity , along with the lack of signal decrease with tissue depth. MPI has been used in medical research to image cardiovascular performance, neuroperfusion , and cell tracking. Medical imaging may be indicated in pregnancy because of pregnancy complications ,

420-463: A graph or function or an imaginary entity. For a mental image to be understood outside of an individual's mind, however, there must be a way of conveying that mental image through the words or visual productions of the subject. The broader sense of the word 'image' also encompasses any two-dimensional figure, such as a map , graph , pie chart , painting , or banner . In this wider sense, images can also be rendered manually, such as by drawing ,

560-452: A pre-existing disease or an acquired disease in pregnancy, or routine prenatal care . Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) without MRI contrast agents as well as obstetric ultrasonography are not associated with any risk for the mother or the fetus, and are the imaging techniques of choice for pregnant women. Projectional radiography , CT scan and nuclear medicine imaging result some degree of ionizing radiation exposure, but have with

700-430: A projection on a surface, activation of electronic signals, or digital displays ; they can also be reproduced through mechanical means, such as photography , printmaking , or photocopying . Images can also be animated through digital or physical processes. In the context of signal processing , an image is a distributed amplitude of color(s). In optics , the term "image" (or "optical image") refers specifically to

840-476: A "cult" value as an example of artistic beauty. Following years of various reproductions of the painting, the portrait's "cult" status has little to do with its original subject or the artistry. It has become famous for being famous, while at the same time, its recognizability has made it a subject to be copied, manipulated, satirized, or otherwise altered in forms ranging from Marcel Duchamp's L.H.O.O.Q . to Andy Warhol 's multiple silk-screened reproductions of

980-436: A (usually) male viewer. The documentary film scholar Bill Nichols has also studied how apparently "objective" photographs and films still encode assumptions about their subjects. Images perpetuated in public education, media, and popular culture have a profound impact on the formation of such mental images: What makes them so powerful is that they circumvent the faculties of the conscious mind but, instead, directly target

1120-465: A 3-dimensional object with less effort; the advent and development of " 3-D printing " has expanded that capability. "Moving" two-dimensional images are actually illusions of movement perceived when still images are displayed in sequence, each image lasting less, and sometimes much less, than a fraction of a second. The traditional standard for the display of individual frames by a motion picture projector has been 24 frames per second (FPS) since at least

1260-401: A 3D model, which can then be manipulated by the physician. 3D ultrasounds are produced using a somewhat similar technique. In diagnosing disease of the viscera of the abdomen, ultrasound is particularly sensitive on imaging of biliary tract, urinary tract and female reproductive organs (ovary, fallopian tubes). As for example, diagnosis of gallstone by dilatation of common bile duct and stone in

1400-412: A detectable radio-frequency signal that is received by antennas close to the anatomy being examined. Hydrogen atoms are naturally abundant in people and other biological organisms, particularly in water and fat . For this reason, most MRI scans essentially map the location of water and fat in the body. Pulses of radio waves excite the nuclear spin energy transition, and magnetic field gradients localize

1540-432: A disease. Relatively short-lived isotope , such as Tc is administered to the patient. Isotopes are often preferentially absorbed by biologically active tissue in the body, and can be used to identify tumors or fracture points in bone. Images are acquired after collimated photons are detected by a crystal that gives off a light signal, which is in turn amplified and converted into count data. Fiduciary markers are used in

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1680-464: A few exceptions much lower absorbed doses than what are associated with fetal harm. At higher dosages, effects can include miscarriage , birth defects and intellectual disability . The amount of data obtained in a single MR or CT scan is very extensive. Some of the data that radiologists discard could save patients time and money, while reducing their exposure to radiation and risk of complications from invasive procedures. Another approach for making

1820-455: A form of record-keeping; as an element of spiritual, religious, or magical practice; or even as a form of communication. Early writing systems , including hieroglyphics , ideographic writing, and even the Roman alphabet , owe their origins in some respects to pictorial representations. Images of any type may convey different meanings and sensations for individual viewers, regardless of whether

1960-514: A human author" including "Medical imaging produced by X-rays, ultrasounds, magnetic resonance imaging, or other diagnostic equipment." This position differs from the broad copyright protections afforded to photographs. While the Copyright Compendium is an agency statutory interpretation and not legally binding, courts are likely to give deference to it if they find it reasonable. Yet, there is no U.S. federal case law directly addressing

2100-587: A large signal. This nucleus, present in water molecules, allows the excellent soft-tissue contrast achievable with MRI. A number of different pulse sequences can be used for specific MRI diagnostic imaging (multiparametric MRI or mpMRI). It is possible to differentiate tissue characteristics by combining two or more of the following imaging sequences, depending on the information being sought: T1-weighted (T1-MRI), T2-weighted (T2-MRI), diffusion weighted imaging (DWI-MRI), dynamic contrast enhancement (DCE-MRI), and spectroscopy (MRI-S). For example, imaging of prostate tumors

2240-508: A patient's front-to-back direction and colored green in diagram), and G Z (typically corresponding to a patient's head-to-toe direction and colored blue in diagram). Where negative-going gradient pulses are shown, they represent reversal of the gradient direction, i.e., right-to-left, back-to-front or toe-to-head. For human scanning, gradient strengths of 1–100 mT/m are employed: Higher gradient strengths permit better resolution and faster imaging. The pulse sequence shown here would produce

2380-438: A patient. As such, one should be particularly careful about the anonymity of a recordings of an X-ray image before using or publishing them without consent in journals and other learning materials, whether they are printed or in an electronic format. Organizations in the medical imaging industry include manufacturers of imaging equipment, freestanding radiology facilities, and hospitals. The global market for manufactured devices

2520-498: A person, and so may qualify as PHI. The UK General Medical Council's ethical guidelines indicate that the Council does not require consent prior to making recordings of X-ray images. However, the same guidance indicates that the images and recordings need to be anonimized, and acknowledges that in deciding whether a recording is anonymised, one should bear in mind that apparently insignificant details may still be capable of identifying

2660-401: A physiological effect of light impressions remaining on the retina of the eye for very brief periods. Even though the term is still sometimes used in popular discussions of movies, it is not a scientifically valid explanation. Other terms emphasize the complex cognitive operations of the brain and the human visual system. " Flicker fusion ", the " phi phenomenon ", and " beta movement " are among

2800-582: A research stage and not yet used in clinical routines. Neuroimaging has also been used in experimental circumstances to allow people (especially disabled persons) to control outside devices, acting as a brain computer interface . Many medical imaging software applications are used for non-diagnostic imaging, specifically because they do not have an FDA approval and not allowed to use in clinical research for patient diagnosis. Note that many clinical research studies are not designed for patient diagnosis anyway. Used primarily in ultrasound imaging, capturing

2940-465: A result, storage and communications of electronic image data are prohibitive without the use of compression. JPEG 2000 image compression is used by the DICOM standard for storage and transmission of medical images. The cost and feasibility of accessing large image data sets over low or various bandwidths are further addressed by use of another DICOM standard, called JPIP , to enable efficient streaming of

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3080-574: A safe procedure suitable for diagnosis in children and repeated runs. Patients with specific non-ferromagnetic metal implants, cochlear implants , and cardiac pacemakers nowadays may also have an MRI in spite of effects of the strong magnetic fields. This does not apply on older devices, and details for medical professionals are provided by the device's manufacturer. Certain atomic nuclei are able to absorb and emit radio frequency energy when placed in an external magnetic field . In clinical and research MRI, hydrogen atoms are most often used to generate

3220-496: A spinning magnetic dipole (of which protons are one example) is called the Larmor frequency and is determined by the strength of the main magnetic field and the chemical environment of the nuclei of interest. MRI uses three electromagnetic fields : a very strong (typically 1.5 to 3 teslas ) static magnetic field to polarize the hydrogen nuclei, called the primary field; gradient fields that can be modified to vary in space and time (on

3360-428: A sub-discipline of biomedical engineering , medical physics or medicine depending on the context: Research and development in the area of instrumentation, image acquisition (e.g., radiography), modeling and quantification are usually the preserve of biomedical engineering, medical physics, and computer science ; Research into the application and interpretation of medical images is usually the preserve of radiology and

3500-511: A time constant T 1 which is much larger than T 2 (see below). In MRI, the static magnetic field is augmented by a field gradient coil to vary across the scanned region, so that different spatial locations become associated with different precession frequencies. Only those regions where the field is such that the precession frequencies match the RF frequency will experience excitation. Usually, these field gradients are modulated to sweep across

3640-415: A transverse (axial) image. The first part of the pulse sequence, SS, achieves "slice selection". A shaped pulse (shown here with a sinc modulation) causes a 90° nutation of longitudinal nuclear magnetization within a slab, or slice, creating transverse magnetization. The second part of the pulse sequence, PE, imparts a phase shift upon the slice-selected nuclear magnetization, varying with its location in

3780-479: A vessel called a cryostat . Despite thermal insulation, sometimes including a second cryostat containing liquid nitrogen , ambient heat causes the helium to slowly boil off. Such magnets, therefore, require regular topping-up with liquid helium. Generally a cryocooler , also known as a coldhead, is used to recondense some helium vapor back into the liquid helium bath. Several manufacturers now offer 'cryogenless' scanners, where instead of being immersed in liquid helium

3920-408: A whole, represent an original work of authorship, is a "derivative work". 17 U.S.C.   § 103(b) provides: The copyright in a compilation or derivative work extends only to the material contributed by the author of such work, as distinguished from the preexisting material employed in the work, and does not imply any exclusive right in the preexisting material. The copyright in such work

4060-643: A wide range of medical imaging applications. Images of the same subject produced with two different imaging systems may be correlated (called image registration) by placing a fiduciary marker in the area imaged by both systems. In this case, a marker which is visible in the images produced by both imaging modalities must be used. By this method, functional information from SPECT or positron emission tomography can be related to anatomical information provided by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Similarly, fiducial points established during MRI can be correlated with brain images generated by magnetoencephalography to localize

4200-402: Is a single static image. This phrase is used in photography, visual media , and the computer industry to emphasize that one is not talking about movies, or in very precise or pedantic technical writing such as a standard . A moving image is typically a movie ( film ) or video , including digital video . It could also be an animated display , such as a zoetrope . A still frame

4340-404: Is a still image derived from one frame of a moving one. In contrast, a film still is a photograph taken on the set of a movie or television program during production, used for promotional purposes. In image processing , a picture function is a mathematical representation of a two-dimensional image as a function of two spatial variables . The function f(x,y) describes the intensity of

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4480-536: Is actually a mixture of all these effects, but careful design of the imaging pulse sequence allows one contrast mechanism to be emphasized while the others are minimized. The ability to choose different contrast mechanisms gives MRI tremendous flexibility. In the brain, T 1 -weighting causes the nerve connections of white matter to appear white, and the congregations of neurons of gray matter to appear gray, while cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) appears dark. The contrast of white matter, gray matter and cerebrospinal fluid

4620-550: Is an important factor in determining image quality. Higher magnetic fields increase signal-to-noise ratio , permitting higher resolution or faster scanning. However, higher field strengths require more costly magnets with higher maintenance costs, and have increased safety concerns. A field strength of 1.0–1.5 T is a good compromise between cost and performance for general medical use. However, for certain specialist uses (e.g., brain imaging) higher field strengths are desirable, with some hospitals now using 3.0 T scanners. When

4760-583: Is applied, causing the trajectory in k -space to spiral out from the center to the edge. Due to T 2 and T 2 decay the signal is greatest at the start of the acquisition, hence acquiring the center of k -space first improves contrast to noise ratio (CNR) when compared to conventional zig-zag acquisitions, especially in the presence of rapid movement. Since x → {\displaystyle {\vec {x}}} and k → {\displaystyle {\vec {k}}} are conjugate variables (with respect to

4900-544: Is better accomplished using T2-MRI and DWI-MRI than T2-weighted imaging alone. The number of applications of mpMRI for detecting disease in various organs continues to expand, including liver studies, breast tumors , pancreatic tumors , and assessing the effects of vascular disruption agents on cancer tumors. Nuclear medicine encompasses both diagnostic imaging and treatment of disease, and may also be referred to as molecular medicine or molecular imaging and therapeutics. Nuclear medicine uses certain properties of isotopes and

5040-413: Is called longitudinal or T 1 relaxation and occurs exponentially with a time constant T 1 . The loss of phase coherence in the transverse plane is called transverse or T 2 relaxation. T 1 is thus associated with the enthalpy of the spin system, or the number of nuclei with parallel versus anti-parallel spin. T 2 on the other hand is associated with the entropy of the system, or

5180-461: Is created by differences in the strength of the NMR signal recovered from different locations within the sample. This depends upon the relative density of excited nuclei (usually water protons), on differences in relaxation times ( T 1 , T 2 , and T 2 ) of those nuclei after the pulse sequence, and often on other parameters discussed under specialized MR scans . Contrast in most MR images

5320-416: Is due to a tiny excess of protons in the lower energy state. This gives a net polarization that is parallel to the external field. Application of an RF pulse can tip this net polarization vector sideways (with, i.e., a so-called 90° pulse), or even reverse it (with a so-called 180° pulse). The protons will come into phase with the RF pulse and therefore each other. The recovery of longitudinal magnetization

5460-417: Is generally undertaken by a physician specialising in radiology known as a radiologist ; however, this may be undertaken by any healthcare professional who is trained and certified in radiological clinical evaluation. Increasingly interpretation is being undertaken by non-physicians, for example radiographers frequently train in interpretation as part of expanded practice. Diagnostic radiography designates

5600-687: Is given. Gadolinium-enhanced tissues and fluids appear extremely bright on T 1 -weighted images. This provides high sensitivity for detection of vascular tissues (e.g., tumors) and permits assessment of brain perfusion (e.g., in stroke). There have been concerns raised recently regarding the toxicity of gadolinium-based contrast agents and their impact on persons with impaired kidney function. (See Safety / Contrast agents below.) More recently, superparamagnetic contrast agents, e.g., iron oxide nanoparticles , have become available. These agents appear very dark on T 2 -weighted images and may be used for liver imaging, as normal liver tissue retains

5740-571: Is growing. An imaging-based trial will usually be made up of three components: Medical imaging can lead to patient and healthcare provider harm through exposure to ionizing radiation , iodinated contrast , magnetic fields , and other hazards. Lead is the main material used for radiographic shielding against scattered X-rays. In magnetic resonance imaging , there is MRI RF shielding as well as magnetic shielding to prevent external disturbance of image quality. Medical imaging are generally covered by laws of medical privacy . For example, in

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5880-410: Is independent of, and does not affect or enlarge the scope, duration, ownership, or subsistence of, any copyright protection in the preexisting material. Image An image is a visual representation. An image can be two-dimensional , such as a drawing , painting , or photograph , or three-dimensional , such as a carving or sculpture . Images may be displayed through other media, including

6020-466: Is no limit to the number of scans to which an individual can be subjected, in contrast with X-ray and CT . However, there are well-identified health risks associated with tissue heating from exposure to the RF field and the presence of implanted devices in the body, such as pacemakers. These risks are strictly controlled as part of the design of the instrument and the scanning protocols used. Because CT and MRI are sensitive to different tissue properties,

6160-427: Is objectively measured by an imaging technique, which is used as an indicator of pharmacological response to a therapy) and surrogate endpoints have shown to facilitate the use of small group sizes, obtaining quick results with good statistical power. Imaging is able to reveal subtle change that is indicative of the progression of therapy that may be missed out by more subjective, traditional approaches. Statistical bias

6300-410: Is one factor giving MRI its tremendous soft tissue contrast. MRI contrast agents , such as those containing Gadolinium (III) work by altering (shortening) the relaxation parameters, especially T 1 . A number of schemes have been devised for combining field gradients and radio frequency excitation to create an image: Although each of these schemes is occasionally used in specialist applications,

6440-471: Is one of the most commonly used imaging modalities in the world due to its portability and use in a variety of applications. In emergency situations, echocardiography is quick, easily accessible, and able to be performed at the bedside, making it the modality of choice for many physicians. FNIR Is a relatively new non-invasive imaging technique. NIRS (near infrared spectroscopy) is used for the purpose of functional neuroimaging and has been widely accepted as

6580-417: Is performed in two separate directions. Another scheme which is sometimes used, especially in brain scanning or where images are needed very rapidly, is called echo-planar imaging (EPI): In this case, each RF excitation is followed by a train of gradient echoes with different spatial encoding. Multiplexed-EPI is even faster, e.g., for whole brain functional MRI (fMRI) or diffusion MRI . Image contrast

6720-414: Is reduced as the findings are evaluated without any direct patient contact. Imaging techniques such as positron emission tomography (PET) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are routinely used in oncology and neuroscience areas. For example, measurement of tumour shrinkage is a commonly used surrogate endpoint in solid tumour response evaluation. This allows for faster and more objective assessment of

6860-455: Is reversed using T 2 or T 2 imaging, whereas proton-density-weighted imaging provides little contrast in healthy subjects. Additionally, functional parameters such as cerebral blood flow (CBF) , cerebral blood volume (CBV) or blood oxygenation can affect T 1 , T 2 , and T 2 and so can be encoded with suitable pulse sequences. In some situations it is not possible to generate enough image contrast to adequately show

7000-403: Is scanned in a single shot, following either a sinusoidal or zig-zag trajectory. Since alternating lines of k -space are scanned in opposite directions, this must be taken into account in the reconstruction. Multi-shot EPI and fast spin echo techniques acquire only part of k -space per excitation. In each shot, a different interleaved segment is acquired, and the shots are repeated until k -space

7140-457: Is scanned per RF excitation. When the phase encoding gradient is zero, the line scanned is the k x axis. When a non-zero phase-encoding pulse is added in between the RF excitation and the commencement of the readout gradient, this line moves up or down in k -space, i.e., we scan the line k y  = constant. The k -space formalism also makes it very easy to compare different scanning techniques. In single-shot EPI , all of k -space

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7280-401: Is still an image, even though it does not fully use the visual system's capabilities. On the other hand, some processes can be used to create visual representations of objects that are otherwise inaccessible to the human visual system. These include microscopy for the magnification of minute objects, telescopes that can observe objects at great distances, X-rays that can visually represent

7420-443: Is sufficiently well-covered. Since the data at the center of k -space represent lower spatial frequencies than the data at the edges of k -space, the T E value for the center of k -space determines the image's T 2 contrast. The importance of the center of k -space in determining image contrast can be exploited in more advanced imaging techniques. One such technique is spiral acquisition—a rotating magnetic field gradient

7560-437: Is the imaging by sections or sectioning. The main such methods in medical imaging are: When ultrasound is used to image the heart it is referred to as an echocardiogram . Echocardiography allows detailed structures of the heart, including chamber size, heart function, the valves of the heart, as well as the pericardium (the sac around the heart) to be seen. Echocardiography uses 2D, 3D, and Doppler imaging to create pictures of

7700-486: Is used to denote a procedure where no instrument is introduced into a patient's body, which is the case for most imaging techniques used. In the clinical context, "invisible light" medical imaging is generally equated to radiology or "clinical imaging". "Visible light" medical imaging involves digital video or still pictures that can be seen without special equipment. Dermatology and wound care are two modalities that use visible light imagery. Interpretation of medical images

7840-462: The JPEG 2000 compressed image data. There has been growing trend to migrate from on-premise PACS to a cloud-based PACS. A recent article by Applied Radiology said, "As the digital-imaging realm is embraced across the healthcare enterprise, the swift transition from terabytes to petabytes of data has put radiology on the brink of information overload . Cloud computing offers the imaging department of

7980-455: The anatomy or pathology of interest by adjusting the imaging parameters alone, in which case a contrast agent may be administered. This can be as simple as water , taken orally, for imaging the stomach and small bowel. However, most contrast agents used in MRI are selected for their specific magnetic properties. Most commonly, a paramagnetic contrast agent (usually a gadolinium compound )

8120-420: The inverse Fourier transform of the sampled data, viz. Using the k -space formalism, a number of seemingly complex ideas became simple. For example, it becomes very easy (for physicists , in particular) to understand the role of phase encoding (the so-called spin-warp method). In a standard spin echo or gradient echo scan, where the readout (or view) gradient is constant (e.g., G ), a single line of k -space

8260-502: The isotope C does. When these spins are placed in a strong external magnetic field they precess around an axis along the direction of the field. Protons align in two energy eigenstates (the Zeeman effect ): one low-energy and one high-energy, which are separated by a very small splitting energy. Quantum mechanics is required to accurately model the behaviour of a single proton. However, classical mechanics can be used to describe

8400-557: The k -space formalism, a technique that proved invaluable in unifying different MR imaging techniques. They showed that the demodulated MR signal S ( t ) generated by the interaction between an ensemble of freely precessing nuclear spins in the presence of a linear magnetic field gradient G and a receiver-coil equals the Fourier transform of the effective spin density, ρ ( x → ) {\displaystyle \rho ({\vec {x}})} . Fundamentally,

8540-470: The static magnetic field at different spatial locations ("inhomogeneities") that cause the Larmor frequency to vary across the body. This creates destructive interference , which shortens the FID. The time constant for the observed decay of the FID is called the T 2 relaxation time, and is always shorter than T 2 . At the same time, the longitudinal magnetization starts to recover exponentially with

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8680-481: The Age of Mechanical Reproduction." Benjamin argues that the mechanical reproduction of images, which had accelerated through photographic processes in the previous one hundred years or so, inevitably degrades the "authenticity" or quasi-religious "aura" of the original object. One example is Leonardo da Vinci 's Mona Lisa , originally painted as a portrait, but much later, with its display as an art object, it developed

8820-525: The Fourier transform) we can use the Nyquist theorem to show that a step in k -space determines the field of view of the image (maximum frequency that is correctly sampled) and the maximum value of k sampled determines the resolution; i.e., (These relationships apply to each axis independently.) In the timing diagram , the horizontal axis represents time. The vertical axis represents: (top row) amplitude of radio frequency pulses; (middle rows) amplitudes of

8960-513: The Greek philosopher Plato described our apparent reality as a copy of a higher order of universal forms . As copies of a higher reality, the things we perceive in the world, tangible or abstract, are inevitably imperfect. Book 7 of The Republic offers Plato's " Allegory of the Cave ," where ordinary human life is compared to being a prisoner in a darkened cave who believes that shadows projected onto

9100-566: The MR scanner is placed in the hospital or clinic, its main magnetic field is far from being homogeneous enough to be used for scanning. That is why before doing fine tuning of the field using a sample, the magnetic field of the magnet must be measured and shimmed . After a sample is placed into the scanner, the main magnetic field is distorted by susceptibility boundaries within that sample, causing signal dropout (regions showing no signal) and spatial distortions in acquired images. For humans or animals

9240-611: The US market for imaging scans at about $ 100b, with 60% occurring in hospitals and 40% occurring in freestanding clinics, such as the RadNet chain. As per chapter 300 of the Compendium of U.S. Copyright Office Practices , "the Office will not register works produced by a machine or mere mechanical process that operates randomly or automatically without any creative input or intervention from

9380-639: The United States the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) sets restrictions for health care providers on utilizing protected health information , which is any individually identifiable information relating to the past, present, or future physical or mental health of any individual. While there has not been any definitive legal decision in the matter, at least one study has indicated that medical imaging may contain biometric information that can uniquely identify

9520-545: The United States. Medical imaging equipment is manufactured using technology from the semiconductor industry , including CMOS integrated circuit chips, power semiconductor devices , sensors such as image sensors (particularly CMOS sensors ) and biosensors , and processors such as microcontrollers , microprocessors , digital signal processors , media processors and system-on-chip devices. As of 2015, annual shipments of medical imaging chips amount to 46   million units and $ 1.1 billion . The term " noninvasive "

9660-467: The X direction. The signal is sampled n FE times by the ADC during this period, as represented by the vertical lines. Typically n FE of between 128 and 512 samples are taken. The longitudinal magnetisation is then allowed to recover somewhat and after a time T R the whole sequence is repeated n PE times, but with the phase-encoding gradient incremented (indicated by the horizontal hatching in

9800-449: The Y direction. The third part of the pulse sequence, another slice selection (of the same slice) uses another shaped pulse to cause a 180° rotation of transverse nuclear magnetization within the slice. This transverse magnetisation refocuses to form a spin echo at a time T E . During the spin echo, a frequency-encoding (FE) or readout gradient is applied, making the resonant frequency of the nuclear magnetization vary with its location in

9940-402: The advance of 3D tomography due to the low cost, high resolution, and depending on the application, lower radiation dosages with 2D technique. This imaging modality uses a wide beam of X-rays for image acquisition and is the first imaging technique available in modern medicine. A magnetic resonance imaging instrument ( MRI scanner ), or "nuclear magnetic resonance ( NMR ) imaging" scanner as it

10080-459: The agent, but abnormal areas (e.g., scars, tumors) do not. They can also be taken orally, to improve visualization of the gastrointestinal tract , and to prevent water in the gastrointestinal tract from obscuring other organs (e.g., the pancreas ). Diamagnetic agents such as barium sulfate have also been studied for potential use in the gastrointestinal tract , but are less frequently used. In 1983, Ljunggren and Twieg independently introduced

10220-435: The anatomy and physiology of the body, and to detect pathologies including tumors , inflammation , neurological conditions such as stroke , disorders of muscles and joints, and abnormalities in the heart and blood vessels among other things. Contrast agents may be injected intravenously or into a joint to enhance the image and facilitate diagnosis. Unlike CT and X-ray , MRI uses no ionizing radiation and is, therefore,

10360-423: The appearances of the images obtained with the two techniques differ markedly. In CT, X-rays must be blocked by some form of dense tissue to create an image, so the image quality when looking at soft tissues will be poor. In MRI, while any nucleus with a net nuclear spin can be used, the proton of the hydrogen atom remains the most widely used, especially in the clinical setting, because it is so ubiquitous and returns

10500-425: The area of the body to be examined. The RF pulse is absorbed by protons, causing their direction with respect to the primary magnetic field to change. When the RF pulse is turned off, the protons "relax" back to alignment with the primary magnet and emit radio-waves in the process. This radio-frequency emission from the hydrogen-atoms on water is what is detected and reconstructed into an image. The resonant frequency of

10640-562: The art of painting, or the graphic arts (such as lithography or etching ). Additionally, images can be rendered automatically through printing , computer graphics technology, or a combination of both methods. A two-dimensional image does not need to use the entire visual system to be a visual representation. An example of this is a grayscale ("black and white") image, which uses the visual system's sensitivity to brightness across all wavelengths without taking into account different colors. A black-and-white visual representation of something

10780-411: The behaviour of an ensemble of protons adequately. As with other spin 1 / 2 {\displaystyle 1/2} particles, whenever the spin of a single proton is measured it can only have one of two results commonly called parallel and anti-parallel . When we discuss the state of a proton or protons we are referring to the wave function of that proton which is a linear combination of

10920-514: The blood flow in arteries and veins to be assessed. Elastography is a relatively new imaging modality that maps the elastic properties of soft tissue. This modality emerged in the last two decades. Elastography is useful in medical diagnoses, as elasticity can discern healthy from unhealthy tissue for specific organs/growths. For example, cancerous tumours will often be harder than the surrounding tissue, and diseased livers are stiffer than healthy ones. There are several elastographic techniques based on

11060-498: The cave's wall comprise actual reality. Since art is itself an imitation, it is a copy of that copy and all the more imperfect. Artistic images, then, not only misdirect human reason away from understanding the higher forms of true reality, but in imitating the bad behaviors of humans in depictions of the gods, they can corrupt individuals and society. Echoes of such criticism have persisted across time, accelerating as image-making technologies have developed and expanded immensely since

11200-402: The collection of protons appear to behave as though they can have any alignment. Most protons align parallel to B 0 as this is a lower energy state. A radio frequency pulse is then applied, which can excite protons from parallel to anti-parallel alignment, only the latter are relevant to the rest of the discussion. In response to the force bringing them back to their equilibrium orientation,

11340-399: The commercial introduction of "talking pictures" in the late 1920s, which necessitated a standard for synchronizing images and sounds. Even in electronic formats such as television and digital image displays, the apparent "motion" is actually the result of many individual lines giving the impression of continuous movement. This phenomenon has often been described as " persistence of vision ":

11480-528: The common bile duct. With the ability to visualize important structures in great detail, 3D visualization methods are a valuable resource for the diagnosis and surgical treatment of many pathologies. It was a key resource for the famous, but ultimately unsuccessful attempt by Singaporean surgeons to separate Iranian twins Ladan and Laleh Bijani in 2003. The 3D equipment was used previously for similar operations with great success. Other proposed or developed techniques include: Some of these techniques are still at

11620-439: The effect is particularly pronounced at air-tissue boundaries such as the sinuses (due to paramagnetic oxygen in air) making, for example, the frontal lobes of the brain difficult to image. To restore field homogeneity a set of shim coils is included in the scanner. These are resistive coils, usually at room temperature, capable of producing field corrections distributed as several orders of spherical harmonics . After placing

11760-501: The effects of T 1 preparation, T 2 decay, dephasing due to field inhomogeneity, flow, diffusion, etc. and any other phenomena that affect that amount of transverse magnetization available to induce signal in the RF probe or its phase with respect to the receiving coil' s electromagnetic field. From the basic k -space formula, it follows immediately that we reconstruct an image I ( x → ) {\displaystyle I({\vec {x}})} by taking

11900-447: The effects of anticancer drugs. In Alzheimer's disease , MRI scans of the entire brain can accurately assess the rate of hippocampal atrophy, while PET scans can measure the brain's metabolic activity by measuring regional glucose metabolism, and beta-amyloid plaques using tracers such as Pittsburgh compound B (PiB). Historically less use has been made of quantitative medical imaging in other areas of drug development although interest

12040-418: The endpoint, he or she is generally excluded from further experimental interaction. Trials that rely solely on clinical endpoints are very costly as they have long durations and tend to need large numbers of patients. In contrast to clinical endpoints, surrogate endpoints have been shown to cut down the time required to confirm whether a drug has clinical benefits. Imaging biomarkers (a characteristic that

12180-501: The energetic particles emitted from radioactive material to diagnose or treat various pathology. Different from the typical concept of anatomic radiology, nuclear medicine enables assessment of physiology. This function-based approach to medical evaluation has useful applications in most subspecialties, notably oncology, neurology, and cardiology. Gamma cameras and PET scanners are used in e.g. scintigraphy, SPECT and PET to detect regions of biologic activity that may be associated with

12320-498: The fact that it is operated by the transmission and receipt of sound waves. The high frequency sound waves are sent into the tissue and depending on the composition of the different tissues; the signal will be attenuated and returned at separate intervals. A path of reflected sound waves in a multilayered structure can be defined by an input acoustic impedance (ultrasound sound wave) and the Reflection and transmission coefficients of

12460-493: The form of idols . In recent years, militant extremist groups such as the Taliban and ISIS have destroyed centuries-old artifacts, especially those associated with other religions. Virtually all cultures have produced images and applied different meanings or applications to them. The loss of knowledge about the context and connection of an image to its object is likely to result in different perceptions and interpretations of

12600-502: The form of 3D blocks, which may be considered a generalization of the single-slice, tomographic, concept. Unlike CT, MRI does not involve the use of ionizing radiation and is therefore not associated with the same health hazards. For example, because MRI has only been in use since the early 1980s, there are no known long-term effects of exposure to strong static fields (this is the subject of some debate; see 'Safety' in MRI ) and therefore there

12740-456: The function of moving structures in real-time, emits no ionizing radiation , and contains speckle that can be used in elastography . Ultrasound is also used as a popular research tool for capturing raw data, that can be made available through an ultrasound research interface , for the purpose of tissue characterization and implementation of new image processing techniques. The concepts of ultrasound differ from other medical imaging modalities in

12880-414: The future the tools to manage data much more intelligently." Medical imaging has become a major tool in clinical trials since it enables rapid diagnosis with visualization and quantitative assessment. A typical clinical trial goes through multiple phases and can take up to eight years. Clinical endpoints or outcomes are used to determine whether the therapy is safe and effective. Once a patient reaches

13020-520: The green gradient block). Typically n PE of between 128 and 512 repetitions are made. The negative-going lobes in G X and G Z are imposed to ensure that, at time T E (the spin echo maximum), phase only encodes spatial location in the Y direction. Typically T E is between 5 ms and 100 ms, while T R is between 100 ms and 2000 ms. After the two-dimensional matrix (typical dimension between 128 × 128 and 512 × 512) has been acquired, producing

13160-485: The heart and visualize the blood flowing through each of the four heart valves. Echocardiography is widely used in an array of patients ranging from those experiencing symptoms, such as shortness of breath or chest pain, to those undergoing cancer treatments. Transthoracic ultrasound has been proven to be safe for patients of all ages, from infants to the elderly, without risk of harmful side effects or radiation, differentiating it from other imaging modalities. Echocardiography

13300-461: The illusion of depth in an otherwise "flat" image, but "3-D photography" ( stereoscopy ) or " 3-D film " are optical illusions that require special devices such as eyeglasses to create the illusion of depth. Copies of 3-dimensional images have traditionally had to be crafted one at a time, usually by an individual or team of artisans . In the modern age, the development of plastics and other technologies made it possible to create multiple copies of

13440-529: The image and even of the original object itself. Through human history, one dominant form of imagery has been in relation to religion and spirituality. Such images, whether in the form of idols that are objects of worship or that represent some other spiritual state or quality, have a different status as artifacts when copies of such images sever links to the spiritual or supernatural. The German philosopher and essayist Walter Benjamin brought particular attention to this point in his 1935 essay "The Work of Art in

13580-763: The image produced by a medical imaging device is required for archiving and telemedicine applications. In most scenarios, a frame grabber is used in order to capture the video signal from the medical device and relay it to a computer for further processing and operations. The Digital Imaging and Communication in Medicine (DICOM) Standard is used globally to store, exchange, and transmit medical images. The DICOM Standard incorporates protocols for imaging techniques such as radiography, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), ultrasound, and radiation therapy. Medical imaging techniques produce very large amounts of data, especially from CT, MRI and PET modalities. As

13720-471: The image's creator intended them. An image may be taken simply as a more or less "accurate" copy of a person, place, thing, or event. It may represent an abstract concept, such as the political power of a ruler or ruling class, a practical or moral lesson, an object for spiritual or religious veneration, or an object—human or otherwise—to be desired. It may also be regarded for its purely aesthetic qualities, rarity, or monetary value. Such reactions can depend on

13860-503: The image. In modern times, the development of " non-fungible tokens " (NFTs) has been touted as an attempt to create "authentic" or "unique" images that have a monetary value, existing only in digital format. This assumption has been widely debated. The development of synthetic acoustic technologies and the creation of sound art have led to considering the possibilities of a sound-image made up of irreducible phonic substance beyond linguistic or musicological analysis. A still image

14000-635: The interior structures of the human body (among other objects), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) , positron emission tomography (PET scans) , and others. Such processes often rely on detecting electromagnetic radiation that occurs beyond the light spectrum visible to the human eye and converting such signals into recognizable images. Aside from sculpture and other physical activities that can create three-dimensional images from solid material, some modern techniques, such as holography , can create three-dimensional images that are reproducible but intangible to human touch. Some photographic processes can now render

14140-405: The invention of the daguerreotype and other photographic processes in the mid-19th century. By the late 20th century, works like John Berger's Ways of Seeing and Susan Sontag 's On Photography questioned the hidden assumptions of power, race, sex, and class encoded in even realistic images, and how those assumptions and such images may implicate the viewer in the voyeuristic position of

14280-589: The issue of the copyrightability of X-ray images. An extensive definition of the term derivative work is given by the United States Copyright Act in 17 U.S.C.   § 101 : A "derivative work" is a work based upon one or more preexisting works, such as a translation... art reproduction, abridgment, condensation, or any other form in which a work may be recast, transformed, or adapted. A work consisting of editorial revisions, annotations, elaborations, or other modifications which, as

14420-702: The last decade, a steady increase of activities in the field of elastography is observed demonstrating successful application of the technology in various areas of medical diagnostics and treatment monitoring. Photoacoustic imaging is a recently developed hybrid biomedical imaging modality based on the photoacoustic effect. It combines the advantages of optical absorption contrast with an ultrasonic spatial resolution for deep imaging in (optical) diffusive or quasi-diffusive regime. Recent studies have shown that photoacoustic imaging can be used in vivo for tumor angiogenesis monitoring, blood oxygenation mapping, functional brain imaging, and skin melanoma detection, etc. Tomography

14560-406: The local magnetic field around the proton or group of protons, a stronger field corresponds to a larger energy difference and higher frequency photons. By applying additional magnetic fields (gradients) that vary linearly over space, specific slices to be imaged can be selected, and an image is obtained by taking the 2-D Fourier transform of the spatial frequencies of the signal ( k -space ). Due to

14700-541: The magnet wire is cooled directly by a cryocooler. Alternatively, the magnet may be cooled by carefully placing liquid helium in strategic spots, dramatically reducing the amount of liquid helium used, or, high temperature superconductors may be used instead. Magnets are available in a variety of shapes. However, permanent magnets are most frequently C-shaped, and superconducting magnets most frequently cylindrical. C-shaped superconducting magnets and box-shaped permanent magnets have also been used. Magnetic field strength

14840-464: The magnetic Lorentz force from B 0 on the current flowing in the gradient coils, the gradient coils will try to move producing loud knocking sounds, for which patients require hearing protection. The MRI scanner was developed from 1975 to 1977 at the University of Nottingham by Prof Raymond Andrew FRS FRSE following from his research into nuclear magnetic resonance . The full body scanner

14980-483: The main magnet is its precision. The straightness of the magnetic lines within the center (or, as it is technically known, the iso-center) of the magnet needs to be near-perfect. This is known as homogeneity. Fluctuations (inhomogeneities in the field strength) within the scan region should be less than three parts per million (3 ppm). Three types of magnets have been used: Most superconducting magnets have their coils of superconductive wire immersed in liquid helium, inside

15120-411: The main magnet, which polarizes the sample, the shim coils for correcting inhomogeneities in the main magnetic field, the gradient system which is used to localize the MR signal and the RF system, which excites the sample and detects the resulting NMR signal. The whole system is controlled by one or more computers. The magnet is the largest and most expensive component of the scanner, and the remainder of

15260-409: The majority of MR Images today are created either by the two-dimensional Fourier transform (2DFT) technique with slice selection, or by the three-dimensional Fourier transform (3DFT) technique. Another name for 2DFT is spin-warp. What follows here is a description of the 2DFT technique with slice selection. The 3DFT technique is rather similar except that there is no slice selection and phase-encoding

15400-694: The making of images, even though the extent of that proscription has varied with time, place, and sect or denomination of a given religion. In Judaism, one of the Ten Commandments given by God to Moses on Mount Sinai forbids the making of "any graven image, or any likeness [of any thing] that [is] in heaven above, or that [is] in the earth beneath, or that [is] in the water under earth." In Christian history, periods of iconoclasm (the destruction of images, especially those with religious meanings or connotations) have broken out from time to time, and some sects and denominations have rejected or severely limited

15540-484: The medical sub-discipline relevant to medical condition or area of medical science ( neuroscience , cardiology , psychiatry , psychology , etc.) under investigation. Many of the techniques developed for medical imaging also have scientific and industrial applications. Two forms of radiographic images are in use in medical imaging. Projection radiography and fluoroscopy, with the latter being useful for catheter guidance. These 2D techniques are still in wide use despite

15680-445: The number of nuclei in phase. When the radio frequency pulse is turned off, the transverse vector component produces an oscillating magnetic field which induces a small current in the receiver coil. This signal is called the free induction decay (FID). In an idealized nuclear magnetic resonance experiment, the FID decays approximately exponentially with a time constant T 2 . However, in practical MRI there are small differences in

15820-454: The order of 1 kHz) for spatial encoding, often simply called gradients; and a spatially homogeneous radio-frequency (RF) field for manipulation of the hydrogen nuclei to produce measurable signals, collected through an RF antenna . Like CT , MRI traditionally creates a two-dimensional image of a thin "slice" of the body and is therefore considered a tomographic imaging technique. Modern MRI instruments are capable of producing images in

15960-417: The parallel and anti-parallel states. In the presence of the magnetic field, B 0 , the protons will appear to precess at the Larmor frequency determined by the particle's gyro-magnetic ratio and the strength of the field . The static fields used most commonly in MRI cause precession which corresponds to a radiofrequency (RF) photon . The net longitudinal magnetization in thermodynamic equilibrium

16100-523: The philosophy of art. While such studies inevitably deal with issues of meaning, another approach to signification was suggested by the American philosopher, logician, and semiotician Charles Sanders Peirce . "Images" are one type of the broad category of "signs" proposed by Peirce. Although his ideas are complex and have changed over time, the three categories of signs that he distinguished stand out: A single image may exist in all three categories at

16240-431: The point at coordinates (x,y). In literature, a " mental image " may be developed through words and phrases to which the senses respond. It involves picturing an image mentally, also called imagining, hence imagery. It can both be figurative and literal. MRI scanner Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a medical imaging technique mostly used in radiology and nuclear medicine in order to investigate

16380-537: The procedures more efficient is based on utilizing additional constraints, e.g., in some medical imaging modalities one can improve the efficiency of the data acquisition by taking into account the fact the reconstructed density is positive. Volume rendering techniques have been developed to enable CT, MRI and ultrasound scanning software to produce 3D images for the physician. Traditionally CT and MRI scans produced 2D static output on film. To produce 3D images, many scans are made and then combined by computers to produce

16520-407: The protons undergo a rotating motion ( precession ), much like a spun wheel under the effect of gravity. The protons will return to the low energy state by the process of spin-lattice relaxation . This appears as a magnetic flux , which yields a changing voltage in the receiver coils to give a signal. The frequency at which a proton or group of protons in a voxel resonates depends on the strength of

16660-423: The region to be scanned, and it is the almost infinite variety of RF and gradient pulse sequences that gives MRI its versatility. Change of field gradient spreads the responding FID signal in the frequency domain, but this can be recovered and measured by a refocusing gradient (to create a so-called "gradient echo"), or by a radio frequency pulse (to create a so-called " spin-echo "), or in digital post-processing of

16800-454: The relative structures. It is very safe to use and does not appear to cause any adverse effects. It is also relatively inexpensive and quick to perform. Ultrasound scanners can be taken to critically ill patients in intensive care units, avoiding the danger caused while moving the patient to the radiology department. The real-time moving image obtained can be used to guide drainage and biopsy procedures. Doppler capabilities on modern scanners allow

16940-583: The reproduction of an object formed by light waves coming from the object. A volatile image exists or is perceived only for a short period. This may be a reflection of an object by a mirror, a projection of a camera obscura , or a scene displayed on a cathode-ray tube . A fixed image , also called a hard copy , is one that has been recorded on a material object, such as paper or textile . A mental image exists in an individual's mind as something one remembers or imagines. The subject of an image does not need to be real; it may be an abstract concept such as

17080-471: The same time. The Statue of Liberty provides an example. While there have been countless two-dimensional and three-dimensional "reproductions" of the statue (i.e., "icons" themselves), the statue itself exists as The nature of images, whether three-dimensional or two-dimensional, created for a specific purpose or only for aesthetic pleasure, has continued to provoke questions and even condemnation at different times and places. In his dialogue, The Republic ,

17220-433: The sample in the scanner, the B 0 field is 'shimmed' by adjusting currents in the shim coils. Field homogeneity is measured by examining an FID signal in the absence of field gradients. The FID from a poorly shimmed sample will show a complex decay envelope, often with many humps. Shim currents are then adjusted to produce a large amplitude exponentially decaying FID, indicating a homogeneous B 0 field. The process

17360-453: The scanner is built around it. The strength of the magnet is measured in teslas (T) . Clinical magnets generally have a field strength in the range 0.1–3.0 T, with research systems available up to 9.4 T for human use and 21 T for animal systems. In the United States, field strengths up to 7 T have been approved by the FDA for clinical use. Just as important as the strength of

17500-432: The signal in space. By varying the parameters of the pulse sequence , different contrasts may be generated between tissues based on the relaxation properties of the hydrogen atoms therein. When inside the magnetic field ( B 0 ) of the scanner, the magnetic moments of the protons align to be either parallel or anti-parallel to the direction of the field. While each individual proton can only have one of two alignments,

17640-453: The signal is derived from Faraday's law of induction : where: In other words, as time progresses the signal traces out a trajectory in k -space with the velocity vector of the trajectory proportional to the vector of the applied magnetic field gradient. By the term effective spin density we mean the true spin density ρ ( x → ) {\displaystyle \rho ({\vec {x}})} corrected for

17780-465: The so-called k -space data, a two-dimensional inverse Fourier transform is performed to provide the familiar MR image. Either the magnitude or phase of the Fourier transform can be taken, the former being far more common. edit This table does not include uncommon and experimental sequences . Standard foundation and comparison for other sequences Standard foundation and comparison for other sequences The major components of an MRI scanner are:

17920-608: The source of brain activity. Medical ultrasound uses high frequency broadband sound waves in the megahertz range that are reflected by tissue to varying degrees to produce (up to 3D) images. This is commonly associated with imaging the fetus in pregnant women. Uses of ultrasound are much broader, however. Other important uses include imaging the abdominal organs, heart, breast, muscles, tendons, arteries and veins. While it may provide less anatomical detail than techniques such as CT or MRI, it has several advantages which make it ideal in numerous situations, in particular that it studies

18060-523: The spread signal. The whole process can be repeated when some T 1 -relaxation has occurred and the thermal equilibrium of the spins has been more or less restored. The repetition time (TR) is the time between two successive excitations of the same slice. Typically, in soft tissues T 1 is around one second while T 2 and T 2 are a few tens of milliseconds. However, these values can vary widely between different tissues, as well as between different external magnetic fields. This behavior

18200-447: The subconscious and affective, thus evading direct inquiry through contemplative reasoning. By doing so such axiomatic images let us know what we shall desire (liberalism, in a snapshot: the crunchy honey-flavored cereals and the freshly-pressed orange juice in the back of a suburban one-family home) and from what we shall obstain (communism, in a snapshot: lifeless crowds of men and machinery marching towards certain perdition accompanied by

18340-452: The technical aspects of medical imaging and in particular the acquisition of medical images. The radiographer (also known as a radiologic technologist) is usually responsible for acquiring medical images of diagnostic quality; although other professionals may train in this area, notably some radiological interventions performed by radiologists are done so without a radiographer. As a field of scientific investigation, medical imaging constitutes

18480-500: The terms that have replaced "persistence of vision", though no one term seems adequate to describe the process. Image-making seems to have been common to virtually all human cultures since at least the Paleolithic era . Prehistoric examples of rock art —including cave paintings , petroglyphs , rock reliefs , and geoglyphs —have been found on every inhabited continent. Many of these images seem to have served various purposes: as

18620-538: The three orthogonal magnetic field gradient pulses; and (bottom row) receiver analog-to-digital converter (ADC). Radio frequencies are transmitted at the Larmor frequency of the nuclide to be imaged. For example, for H in a magnetic field of 1  T , a frequency of 42.5781  MHz would be employed. The three field gradients are labeled G X (typically corresponding to a patient's left-to-right direction and colored red in diagram), G Y (typically corresponding to

18760-579: The tunes of Soviet Russian songs). What makes those images so powerful is that it is only of relative minor relevance for the stabilization of such images whether they actually capture and correspond with the multiple layers of reality, or not. Despite, or perhaps because of, the widespread use of religious and spiritual imagery worldwide, the making of images and the depiction of gods or religious subjects has been subject to criticism, censorship, and criminal penalties. The Abrahamic religions ( Judaism , Christianity , and Islam ) all have had admonitions against

18900-512: The use of religious imagery. Islam tends to discourage religious depictions, sometimes quite rigorously, and often extends that to other forms of realistic imagery, favoring calligraphy or geometric designs instead. Depending on time and place, photographs and broadcast images in Islamic societies may be less subject to outright prohibition. In any religion, restrictions on image-making are especially targeted to avoid depictions of "false gods" in

19040-495: The use of ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging and tactile imaging. The wide clinical use of ultrasound elastography is a result of the implementation of technology in clinical ultrasound machines. Main branches of ultrasound elastography include Quasistatic Elastography/Strain Imaging, Shear Wave Elasticity Imaging (SWEI), Acoustic Radiation Force Impulse imaging (ARFI), Supersonic Shear Imaging (SSI), and Transient Elastography. In

19180-407: The viewer's context. A religious image in a church may be regarded differently than the same image mounted in a museum. Some might view it simply as an object to be bought or sold. Viewers' reactions will also be guided or shaped by their education, class, race, and other contexts. The study of emotional sensations and their relationship to any given image falls into the categories of aesthetics and

19320-448: Was created in 1978. Subatomic particles have the quantum mechanical property of spin . Certain nuclei such as H ( protons ), H, He , Na or P , have a non–zero spin and therefore a magnetic moment . In the case of the so-called spin- 1 ⁄ 2 nuclei , such as H, there are two spin states , sometimes referred to as up and down . Nuclei such as C have no unpaired neutrons or protons, and no net spin; however,

19460-470: Was estimated at $ 5 billion in 2018. Notable manufacturers as of 2012 included Fujifilm , GE HealthCare , Siemens Healthineers , Philips , Shimadzu , Toshiba , Carestream Health , Hitachi , Hologic , and Esaote . In 2016, the manufacturing industry was characterized as oligopolistic and mature; new entrants included in Samsung and Neusoft Medical . In the United States, as estimate as of 2015 places

19600-411: Was originally known, uses powerful magnets to polarize and excite hydrogen nuclei (i.e., single protons ) of water molecules in human tissue, producing a detectable signal which is spatially encoded, resulting in images of the body. The MRI machine emits a radio frequency (RF) pulse at the resonant frequency of the hydrogen atoms on water molecules. Radio frequency antennas ("RF coils") send the pulse to

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