Resources

The Center provides imaging facilities and equipment for campus research programs. These facilities and equipment include:

3T Siemens Magnetom Allegra MR Headscanner

The 3T Allegra is a state-of-the-art system designed for neurological and cognitive fMRI studies. It is also utilized for engineering hardware and software development. The development environment for protocols and pulse sequences is fully integrated, allowing simulating, testing, and debugging of protocols and pulse sequences. In addition, the system supports real-time processing of BOLD studies with real-time motion detection, correction, and statistical evaluation. The system affords simultaneous MR and eye-tracking and optical imaging.

Allegra MR Headscanner

Three options are available for stimulus presentation: MR-compatible fiber-optic LCD goggle system with integrated eye tracker and pneumatic headphones designed by Magnetic Resonance Technology; an LCD flat screen stimulus-presentation goggle system with shielded electro-static headphones designed by Psychology Software Tools as part of their IFIS system; and a Proxima projection system used to rear-project images onto a specially treated mylar screen. Behavioral responses are collected using MR-compatible fiber-optic response buttons, response pads, or joysticks. An ASL Series 5000 remote optics eyetracker is also available.

Coils:

  • 4 Channel Head Coil
  • 1 Channel Head Coil
  • Host Computer and Imaging Processor (Allegra) This unit uses Syngo MR Software
  • Single Channel Head Coil (Allegra) The coverage of this head coil is 22omm. It has a bird cage design and is a transmit/receive coil.
  • 4 channel Head Coil (Allegra) The coverage of this head coil is 220mm. It has a bird cage design and is a transmit/receive coil.
  • Button Boxes (Allegra) This is a 10 finger fiber optic button box set.
  • Physio Control (Allegra) This control is used to trigger and synchronize measurements for cardiac and respiratory motion. It includes a peripheral sensor that attaches to a finger for a pulse, an ECG signal sensor for the heart, and a breathing sensor that attaches to the chest.
  • Leonardo Work Station (Both Allegra and Trio) The Leonardo may be used with images from either the Allegra or Trio scanners. This uses Syngo software to view, post process and analyze data.

MRI Brain Angiography MRI Brain Angiography

3T Allegra/Trio Mock Magnets

The Center also has a subject preparation area and two mock 3T magnets that were custom-built to simulate the Allegra scanning experience in every way. It is utilized for studies requiring training, but not scanning in the magnet environment. It also provides subjects with the opportunity to habituate to the magnet environment prior to their participation in a particular study.

600 MHz Varian MR System

The 14.1T Varian system consists of a vertical wide bore magnet (89mm) and a 600 MHz Varian Unity/Inova NMR spectrometer equipped with four identical receiver channels and gradient coils with maximum strength of 90 Gauss/cm. The instrument is capable of performing MR imaging and spectroscopic measurements. The maximum usable magnet diameter is 25mm. Besides the commercial 2.5 cm diameter RF coil available for proton imaging, the Center also has several custom built coils. The system is one of only seven such magnets in operation in the world.

FOV Adjustable RF Coil
FOV Adjustable RF Coil

3D Image Rat Brain
3D Image Rat Brain

Advanced AC magnetic field applicator for small animal hyperthermia treatment

This applicator was custom built specifically for small animal experiments. The applicator site has a gap height of 4 cm, which is suitable for treating mice and other small animals. The coil uses a solenoid made of 10 turns of copper tube (diameter, 6cm; Q~70 at f= 800KHz). The AC magnetic field frequency f ranges from 250KHz to 1MHz with a field amplitude of up to 10kA/m.

Magnetom Trio 3T

The MAGNETOM Trio 3T is the newest addition of the latest technology to the Biomedical Imaging Center. The Trio 3T is the first generation of a true 3T whole-body MR system. This instrument offers markedly enhanced spatial resolution, decreased scanning times, and state-of-the-art imaging accuracy. Dedicated to research and clinical research users, the 3T has superior imaging with in-line processing, and may be used for whole-body applications. This Trio 3T is in a unique class of its own.

The Trio comes with the revolutionary TIM technology, which provides whole body imaging with local image quality in a single exam. TIM provides the flexibility to scan any part of the body without interrupting the exam for coil or patient positioning.

Coils:

  • 32 Channel Head Coil
  • 12 Channel Head Coil
  • Pulse Teq 31P Dual Rigid 10 cm Loop Coil (Only Animal Use)
  • Neck Coil
  • Spine Coil
  • Abdomen Coil (Body Matrix)
  • Knee Coil
  • Wrist Coil
  • Small Flex Coil
  • Large Flex Coil
  • 1 Channel Rat Coil (Only Animal Use)

Inventory Descriptions:

  • Siemens High Performance Host Computer and Imaging Processor (Trio) This unit uses Syngo MR Software.
  • Body Matrix Coil (Trio) The body coil contains 2 clusters with 3 elements each and may be used as a 2, 4 or 6 channel coil. This coil may be used with head, neck, and spine coils and is used when scanning the thorax (including heart), abdomen, pelvis and hips.
  • 12 Channel Head Coil (Trio) This coil has 4 clusters of 3 elements each. It may be used as a 4, 8 or 12 channel head coil. The 12 channel head coil may be used alone or with the neck coil for such exams as brains, temporo mandibular joints, and MR angiography.
  • Matrix Neck Coil (Trio) This coil contains 2 clusters with 2 elements each and either 2 or 4 channels may be used while scanning. The neck coil may be used alone or with the spine or head coil. It is used to scan cervical spines, soft tissue necks including larynx and esophagus, MR angiography, and mediastinum.
  • Spine Matrix Coil (Trio) The spine coil consists of 8 clusters with 3 elements each therefore this may be used as an 8, 16 or 24 channel coil. The entire spine has coverage with this coil. The spine coil may be used with the head coil, neck coil and any of the flex coils.
  • Knee Coil by Invivo (Trio) This is an 8 channel transmit/receive coil.
  • Wrist Coil by Invivo (Trio) This is an 8 channel transmit/receive coil.
  • Large Flex Coil (Trio) This coil measures 21cm x 52cm and is a 4 element receive only coil. It may be used for imaging medium to large shoulders, hips, knees, and abdominal examinations.
  • Small Flex Coil (Trio) This coil measures 17cm x 36cm and is a 4 element receive only coil. It may be used for imaging small to medium shoulders, wrists, elbows, and ankles.
  • Wireless Physio Control (Trio) This control is used to trigger and synchronize measurements for cardiac and respiratory motion. It includes a peripheral sensor that attaches to a finger for pulse, an ECG signal sensor for the heart, and a breathing sensor that is attached to the chest.
  • Brainlogics MR Digital Projector (Trio) This projector, along with 2 mirrors and projector screen, allows subjects to view stimuli while in the MR unit getting scanned. It is a DLP projector with 1024 x 768 resolutions.
  • 32 Channel Head Coil (Trio) This coil allows for increased signal to noise ratio for better images and faster scanning. It is a receive only phased array coil.
  • Rapid GmbH Coil by Biomedical (Trio) This is a birdcage configuration transmit receive coil that is used for small rodents or birds. The resonator length is 100mm with an inner diameter of 72mm.
  • Brainlogics Button Boxes (Trio) These button boxes strap to the subjects wrists for security and have 10 response buttons. They are fiber optic.
  • Head Phones with Microphone (Trio) This is a noise cancelling head phones and microphone system that can be used to correspond with, listen and record the subjects.
  • Button Boxes (Trio) This is a 4 finger fiber optic button box set.
  • Button Boxes (Trio) This is an 8 finger fiber optic button box set.
  • Tabletop Pulse Oximeter V3304 by Smiths Medical NOT MRI COMPATABLE!! This shows digital SpO2 and heart rate.

The Trio and its coils provide state-of-the-art images of any system or body part of the body. Enjoy the pictures of the installation of the newest member of the Biomedical Imaging Center. There are high speed fiber-optic network connections to a variety of campus computing and imaging resources such as the National Center for Supercomputing Appications.

Magnetom Trio 3T

Ultrasound-Visual Sonics Vevo 2100

Ultrasound-Visual Sonics Vevo 2100 Non-invasive, real-time in vivo imaging with high resolution has defined Visual Sonics contribution to small animal micro-imaging. Innovation has continued with the Vevo 2100. There have been a number of technological firsts, “Our engineering team has developed the world’s first high frequency linear array transducers and has developed strong intellectual property in this area” remarked Desmond Hirson, Vice President of Engineering.

The Vevo 2100 provides researchers the flexibility to conduct longitudinal studies on a range of models including the mouse, rat, zebra fish, and rabbit. These models play an important role in translating research from the laboratory to the clinic. “The wide field of view, broad depth of focus and multiple focal zones will allow researchers to image structures never seen before; this is really exciting” stated Dr. Stuart Foster, Founder and Chief Scientific Officer at Visual Sonics.

Visual Sonics is the world’s leading developer of high-resolution, ultrasound-based, in vivo micro-imaging systems designed specifically for non-invasive preclinical research. The company’s enabling technology allows researchers at the world’s most prestigious pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, hospitals and universities to conduct research into cardiovascular disease, cancer, and developmental biology including genetic research, phenotypic study and drug development. Only Visual Sonics platforms combine high-resolution, real time in vivo imaging at reasonable cost with ease-of-use, portability and no negative biological effects. www.visualsonics.com

Vevo scans
Left: Sagittal scan of a mouse prostate. Right: The urethra which drains the bladder runs between the lobes. The prostate can be found below the bladder.

INVEON SPEC/PET/CT

Inveon SPEC/PET/CT

Micro/SPEC/PET/CT

  • Micro PET/SPECT/CT Siemens Inveon
  • Multimodality
    • Fine resolution
    • High sensitivity
    • Exquisite image quality
    • PET and CT data

Inveon Scans
Left: Quantitative imaging modality using molecules labeled with positron-emitting radioisotopes in tracer quantities to visualize and measure rates of biochemical processes. Right: Vivo bioluminescence imaging of light producing cells

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