The Insane Engineering of MRI Machines

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Credits:
Writer/Narrator: Brian McManus
Writer: Josi Gold
Editor: Dylan Hennessy
Animator: Mike Ridolfi
Animator: Eli Prenten
Sound: Graham Haerther
Thumbnail: Simon Buckmaster

References:
Select imagery/video supplied by Getty Images
Thank you to AP Archive for access to their archival footage.

Thank you to my patreon supporters: Abdullah Alotaibi, Adam Flohr, Henning Basma, Hank Green, William Leu, Tristan Edwards, Ian Dundore, John & Becki Johnston. Nevin Spoljaric, Jason Clark, Thomas Barth, Johnny MacDonald, Stephen Foland, Alfred Holzheu, Abdulrahman Abdulaziz Binghaith, Brent Higgins, Dexter Appleberry, Alex Pavek, Marko Hirsch, Mikkel Johansen, Hibiyi Mori. Viktor Józsa, Ron Hochsprung

[thethoughtemporium]

I've been trying to understand this for YEARS. YEARS!! This is the first time I actually get it. I knew about the FFT, but projecting lines and how they manage that finally makes sense. Incredible explanation.

[DrFlox]

I did my PhD in the field of MRI. I wish I had this video back then. Great visualizations without oversimplifying things.

[lilcapz]

This is the definition of exceptional science communication. I have a background in engineering (and overall very mechanical curious) and have spent hours trying to understand how MRI’s work after getting a few done on my knee, none of this research can come close to the elegance of explanation shown in this video. Bravo.

[Tinyvalkyrie]

My father helped establish some of the foundational physics and engineering that lead to MRI’s back in the 80s. When I was born in the 90s, I was diagnosed with a rare genetic condition, that resulted in me needing several MRIs every year, indefinitely. I definitely think the enthusiasm he showed for these machines, along with his willingness to explain how they work, really helped mitigate the fear of going inside them, especially when I was a child.

[MedlifeCrisis]

I’m board certified in cardiac MRI and spent 4 years doing research in the field and this is honestly the best explanation I’ve ever seen. Also the best looking, loved the Fourier animation. More medical tech, fewer planes! 😂

[mattgoette]

I'm an MRI physicist, and you've done an excellent job explaining the physics and engineering that goes into an MR scanner!

[Nightraven]

8:40 there is also something called "quench", which is basically if you need to turn off the MRI machine (if, for example, an accident happened and a metal oxygen tank was launched across the room towards the machine) there is a big red button which increases the inside temperature of helium so that it removes superconductivity, which causes helium to instantly boil from liquid to gas. That's why there is a quench pipe, which releases the helium gas outside in a huge cloud of white gas. However, if for some reason something breaks and a helium leaks inside the room, aka the quench happens inside the MRI room, it can be extremely dangerous because people inside the room can suffocate, which is why MRI room doors are (or should be) designed to open towards the outside, because if a bunch of helium releases inside the room, it's going to put pressure onto the door, you won't be able to open them and you could die. And in case of a quench, you will lose helium, and need to refill the MRI machine, which is extremely expensive.

[PackardGilson]

The detailed explanations and depth of knowledge in this video, the M1 Abrams video, and countless others consistently blow my mind. Thank you for all your hard work researching and delivering such high quality videos!

[texastaterbug]

So excited you made this video! I'm a Diagnostic Radiologist who teaches Radiology to medical students. This is as deep an understanding of MRI physics as almost all of my students need. (Less than 10% of my students will have to pass the Radiologic Physics boards that I took to become a Radiologist.) FWIW, we do try to use "surface receiving coils" as often as possible for better images. Seriously, every one of my medical students will be expected to watch this video. Thanks, Brian and team!!!

[PAN-kmqk]

I am a board certified radiologist and involved in MRI science. And this video is an educational piece of art! You and your team is incredible! Congrats!

[kedo]

Kudos to people responsible for making these machines, the amount of patience and intellect required to accomplish this is amazing

[KelseyMA]

I've had more MRIs than I can count since I had a (luckily benign) brain tumor removed in 2015 that was in the middle of my brain. This was so well explained and I found it very interesting as a patient to see and understand what goes on inside the machine. After having so many, I've gotten so used to the clicks and crunks and buzzes that I can usually fall asleep in them now. 😆 I'll need check-up MRIs for the rest of my life, so I'll definitely think of this when I get my next check-up! Thanks!

[mattsonn]

It’s crazy how often a Fourier transform is credited with enabling cutting edge technology. It’s even crazy that most people don’t know who Fourier is despite how influential his work it.

[Peter_S_]

I used to consult for the Toshiba MRI division. The building where they tested the magnets had a huge open area with yellow warning stripes painted all over the floor marking the "keep clear" area around the magnet under test. Turns out the yellow stripes were added after a screwdriver was left out and became a projectile during a magnet test. It punched a hole in the magnet assembly which is not a good thing when you're dealing with that much power.

[freddafishy]

Man I cannot get over how well you explain such complex marvels of technology. Thank you for these videos. They are wildly entertaining and informative.

[codymitchell]

I’m an Electrical Engineer who heavily focused on NMR research during grad school. Absolutely fantastic explanation and animations. I’ll be sending this video to my professor!

[somechad]

I am neither a medical nor a medical engineer or an engineering student. I study pure mathematics. A weird one too, since I'm not fond of physics as well even though I am studying the proofs behind their equations. But seeing how elegant equations like the Fourier transform you mentioned are, brings nothing but a big smile on my face.
During Fourier's time, there was no talk about electromagnetic waves and such. Early mathematicians only had Sin and Cosin waves, the relations between them, and a blackboard and chalk. To think that their tinkering with such trivial sketches would lead to constructing such wonderful pieces of technology is actually mind-blowing.
This further proves that the very core of everything in this universe is tied to mathematics.

[gobblenater]

I'm an MRI engineer for a company featured prominently in this video and this is genuinely one of the best summaries of the technology I've seen so far.
If you're still baffled after watching this video that's perfectly normal. This is stuff that's typically taught over the course of weeks or months not minutes. In spite of the short run time this video is densely packed with useful information.

Well done.

[jeroeno]

As a former mri technologist, I am happy with this very clear explanation without oversymplifying. Brings back memories about understanding the process of 'fitting the k-space' with all the signals measured and generated by the measuring gradients after the initial excitation pulses (slice selection and x/y matrix) echoes readout. FFT was genious. And nowadays mri relies far more on ultrafast 3D volume scans with very little gradient angles instead of the 'simple' 180 degree spinecho sequences. And the dreaded mri sequence acronyms between the manufacturers!
Thank you for rhis video.

[ricardorompar]

I work with medical imaging devices and the MRI is by far the trickiest and most complicated machine to understand. The engineering, creativity and knowledge needed to have come up with this method of generating images is something that blows me away every time I think about it. And now it is a little bit easier to understand thanks to this video, amazing job. And beautiful animations, btw.