MRI: From Physics to Clinical Application

The transition from High Energy Physics to Biomedical Engineering may seem like a leap, but at the heart of both fields lies the same fundamental truth: Electromagnetism. In my current PhD research at the University of Basel, I apply the rigors of physics to solve one of the most challenging problems in medical imaging—shimming the human lung.

The Challenge of the Lung

The lung is a nightmare for MRI. The vast number of air-tissue interfaces causes massive susceptibility artifacts and field inhomogeneities. Standard MRI sequences often fail here, producing "signal voids" where we should see clinical detail.

bSSFP & Shimming

We utilize balanced Steady-State Free Precession (bSSFP) sequences, which are notoriously sensitive to off-resonance effects. My work involves developing automated shimming techniques that "iron out" these field distortions in real-time. By combining 2D shimming with super-resolution algorithms, we can finally begin to see the fine architecture of the lung without the need for radiation-intensive CT scans.

Ultimately, this isn't just about clearer pictures. It's about providing a faster, safer, and more precise diagnostic tool for pulmonary diseases, proving that the bridge between theoretical physics and life-saving technology is shorter than we think.