Final answer:
The technique to reduce MRI scan time with the use of an array coil is known as parallel imaging. It involves capturing signals using multiple coils simultaneously, which leads to faster image processing and a reduced duration of the MRI procedure. This advancement has made MRI scans less stressful and more accessible for all patients.
Step-by-step explanation:
A technique utilized to reduce the MRI scan time which requires the use of an array coil is known as parallel imaging. This method involves multiple array coils that surround the patient, allowing for faster data acquisition and thus reducing the time needed for the MRI procedure. The use of an array coil in MRI machines enhances the efficiency of the imaging process by capturing signals from different angles simultaneously, which can be recombined to form the final image more quickly.
During an MRI, the patient is engulfed by a superconducting cylindrical coil within the imaging device, creating a powerful magnetic field pivotal for the imaging process. This large magnetic field is used for altering the spin of the protons in the patient's body to obtain detailed images. Technological advancements, such as the adoption of array coils, have significantly improved MRI by reducing scan times and potentially mitigating discomfort associated with lengthy procedures.
These advanced coil arrays enable the scanning of larger areas or achieve higher resolution in a shorter time, making the MRIs less stressful and more accessible for patients, including those who might experience claustrophobia in the closed space of traditional MRI machines or those who have challenges fitting into the magnet tunnel due to body size. Such innovations are essential as MRI remains a critical diagnostic tool that provides intricate details of the body's internal structures, surpassing the capabilities of x-rays in some cases but not completely replacing them, while being radiation-free and offering different imaging contrasts like T1 and T2.