#4 Refine Your Research Topic/Question/Problem

I'd like to address some of the questions posed in a blog post from January 31, specifically those associated with improving the measurement of T1. T1 is a type of contrast method used in MRI. Past research efforts have confirmed that an optimal set of repetition time and flip angles will produce an accurate measurement of T1. Here are some questions I posed regarding accurately measuring T1:

How do we accurately simulate an MRI scan?

Well, we have to think about the conditions under which an MRI signal is acquired. MRI signals are notoriously susceptible to noise, or random disturbances that inhibits the signal from being acquired cleanly. I think the best way to simulate an MRI scan is to consider the worst-case scenario, addressed next...

What is the typical quality of signal for an MRI scan (signal to noise ratio)?

Signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) can be as low as 10-20 and as high as 100-200, and sometimes even higher depending on the sophistication of the machine.

Is there an upper limit to how well T1 measurement can be improved?

Yes. The errors associated with measuring T1 are largely due to behavior of particles at the atomic level which are obviously outside of our control.

Why is it important to have an accurate scale of measurable T1 values?

The idea with improving the method by which T1 is measured is for a doctor/clinician to be able to tell a patient with Multiple Scleroses, "Your lesion has progressed to (this point). It has not yet reached the severity of (this kind of lesion)." Right now, the state of the art permits doctors to tell these patients that they do have a lesion, but they can't comment on its progression with any great degree of certainty.

How do we make a good compromise between an accurate scan and scan time?

Without getting too technical, the quality of a scan is directly related to the amount of 'points' that we sample. A 2-point scan will take around 19-30 minutes to complete, a 3-point about 45 minutes, and so on. Bear in mind that a patient in an MRI machine is required to stay perfectly still throughout the time of the scan. Hospitals and clinics also want a high patient/time ratio, which increases profits for them.