THE LATEST IMAGING

MODALITIES
 NMR & MRI
• Human MRI (65-90 cm): 1.5-9.4 Tesla
• Animal MRI (16-40 cm) :4.7-16.4 Tesla
• High-Resolition NMR (54-89 mm) : 9.4-21.1
Tesla
Advantage and Disadvantage of High Field
Strenght
The main advantage : signal-to-noise ratio (SNR),
which can then be traded for improved spatial
resolution or shorter scan times

Disadvantage : higher field strengths can lead to

more image artifacts and reduced image contrast.
Gradient systems with rapid rise times and high
field strengths are required to support the small
field of view required for mouse imaging
 16.4 T MR
• Ultrahigh field MR
• The first owner in the southern hemisphere is
The University of Queensland Australia in
October 2006
• Four times more sensitive than scanner 4T
system
• Predominantly used for microimaging, in
particular, for in vivo / ex vivo mouse imaging and
spectroscopy
 Some Capabilities of 16.4 T MR
• Increased spatial resolution (e.g., for imaging
Alzheimer's plaques in mice);
• Increased spatial resolution and specificity in
fMRI (e.g., for mapping functional structures in
the brain);
• Increased sensitivity and biochemical
information in MRS (e.g., for understanding the
coupling between brain function and energy
metabolism).
 Examples of imaging projects include:

• Diffusion microimaging of fixed embryo, brain,

breast and prostate cancer tissue samples.
• Longitudinal studies of mouse models of spinal
cord injury, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy and
Alzheimer's disease.
• Detection of abnormal brain development using
diffusion imaging and fibretracking.
• Functional kidney and cardiac imaging
• HR-MAS study of liver and brain metabolites
The 700 MHz microimaging MR system at The
University of Queensland Australia
• vertical open bore diameter
of 89 mm
• has an available space of up
to 34 mm diameter, which is
optimal for live mouse
imaging and various types of
ex vivo samples.
• equipped with three types of
gradient inserts: micro5,
micro2.5 and mini0.5 which
provide gradient strengths of
4.8, 2.5 and 0.5 mT/m/A.
Varian Console 16.4 Tesla 26 cm bore system for
Animal Model Studies at University of Minnesota
• Magnet: Varian/Magnex (26cm Bore)
• Operating Current: --
• Energy Stored: --
• Cryostat Height x Length: --
• Conductor Length: --
• Gradients: 250/120 HD Gradient
16.4T/260
• Amplifier: 4-Channel (300
W/channel) Varian RF Amplifier
• Console: Varian Direct Drive w/ 32-
Channel Receiver
• Shim Driver: 20A Varian Shim Power
Supply; 6 Digital/1 Analog Channel
 17.6 T MR
• Ultrahigh field MR
• The first country in Europe which own 17.6 T
MR is Germany in 2002. Beside Germany, the
other country who own up until 2009 is
France.
 Capabilities of 17.6 MR
• Performing micro-imaging;
• Performing in vivo imaging;
• Performing solution NMR spectroscopy;
• Performing solid-state NMR spectroscopy.
Bruker Micro-Imaging 17.6 T 750 MHz
• MHz: 750
• Field: 17.6 tesla
• Bore size: 89 mm
• Console: Bruker Avance
IIIHD
 21.1 T MR
• The strongest MRI scanner in the world for small
animals
• Developed for the first time by The National High
Magnetic Field Laboratory (NHMFL)
• The magnet reached its full field of 21.1 tesla on July
21, 2004, without incurring any training quenches.
Regular user operations started on August 1, 2005.
• 21.1 Tesla MR microimaging magnet operable at 900
mHz is available for achieving spatial resolution up to
15 micron
900 MHz Ultra-Wide
Bore Magnet
Specs
MHz: 900
Field: 21.1 tesla
Bore size: 105 mm
Console: 4-channel
Bruker Avance III
 Technniques &Capabilities
MR Microscopy
MRI
• Energetic & Mateials MRI
• In Vivo MRI
• Low-gamma / Quadrapolar MRI
Solid State
• Aligned Membrane Protein NMR
• Biological Solids MAS NMR
• Low Temperature MAS NMR
• Quadrupolar and Low Gamma NMR
Coil assembly, exploded view.
Legends: 1: G-10 coil former; 2:
conductive legs pattern; 3 and 4:
bottom and top static end rings; 5
and 6: Teflon layers; 7: sliding
copper tuner ring; 8: threaded
tuner tube; 9: Faraday shield
cover; 10: gearbox flange; 11:
large spur gear; 12: pinion gear;
13: tuning shaft with screwdriver
jack; 14: gearbox cover; 15: one
of three BeCu grounding fingers;
16: match trimmer; 17: MCX RF
connectors; 18: tubes for
anesthesia gas and vacuum.