Quick Overview

Zipper artifacts appear as dashed lines. There are various causes for this MRI artifact.
Most of zipper artifacts result from inhomogeneities of the magnetic field caused by interferences with radio frequency from various sources ('your radio is working in the scanner room means your shielding is not working'). Software and equipment problems can also cause zipper lines in both directions.

Scanning room door during the acquisition of images is closed, shielding is working, and all disturbing devices are removed?

See also Room Shielding, Active Shielding, Radio Frequency Shielding.

(2D FT) A form of sequential plane imaging using Fourier transformation imaging. In 2D FT, a line of data corresponds to the digitized NMR signal at a particular phase encoding level. The Fourier transformation process reconstructs the detected frequency and phase encoded image information (which are rotated 90° from each other) into a usable image.

This dose means the RF power absorbed per unit of mass of an object, and is measured in watts per kilogram (W/kg).
The absorbed dose is dependent on the duty cycle and transmitter-coil type and increases with field strength, radio frequency power and and body size.
The specific absorption rate (SAR) describes the potential for heating of the patient's tissue due to the application of the RF energy necessary to produce the MR signal.

See also Specific Absorption Rate, MRI Safety, and MRI Risks.

Vibrations of the gradient coil support structure create sound waves. These are caused by the interactions of the magnetic field created by pulses of the current through the gradient coil with the main magnetic field in a manner similar to a loudspeaker coil. The sounds made by the scanner vary in volume and tone with the type of procedure being performed.
Sound pressure is reported on a logarithmic scale called sound-pressure level, expressed in decibel (dB) referenced to the weakest audible 1 000 Hz sound pressure of 2 * 10^-5 pascal (20 micropascal). Sound level meters contain filters that simulate the ear's frequency response. The most commonly used filter provides what is called 'A' weighting, with the letter 'A' appended to the dB units, i.e. dBA.
MRI system noise levels increase with field strength. Disposable earplugs and/or headphones for the patient are recommended in high-field systems. Noise-canceling systems and special earphones are available, and active acoustic control systems were developed, e.g. softtone, pianissimo. A sequence with low noise gradient pulses is also called 'whisper sequence'.

See also Phon and Decibel.

A current that continuously changes in magnitude and direction. Commonly the current changes at a frequency of 50 - 60 Hz.