Mapping and Spectral Analysis of Acoustic Vibration in the Scanning Area of the Weak Field Magnetic Resonance Imager

Abstract

The paper describes measurement and calculation of 2D distribution of the vibration signal originated by the gradient coil system of the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) equipment. The measurement experiments were performed at the bottom plastic holder of the scanning area of the open-air weak magnetic field MRI device. Selection of a usable type of a vibration sensor for measurement in a magnetic field with low B0 up to 0.2 T is also discussed. Realized calibration of the chosen sensor (sensitivity and frequency response) together with determination of the propagation time delay between the excitation impulses and the subsequently generated vibration signal is mentioned, too. The picked-up vibration signal exhibits harmonic character so it is suitable to describe it by determined spectral properties and features. Obtained statistical results of spectral analysis will be used to improve image sharpening and reduction of the motion effect in the MR pictures of thin layer samples and phantoms scanned by this MRI system.