Imaging Resources

 

Siemens 3T Prisma^fit MRI scanner, equipped with integrated fMRI paradigm presentation equipment, offering visual, auditory, and olfactory stimulus delivery, with tactile and verbal feedback. The scanner and fMRI set-up have been designed to integrate seamlessly with other research MR scanners in South Carolina providing an excellent foundation for multi-center studies. The scanner operates with a 100 percent mandate for research use, as delineated in the state-approved certificate of need, and is covered by a master research agreement with Siemens Medical.

MRI Screening Form (PDF) or complete on REDCap here.

Location & Hours of Operation

Human Imaging
30 Bee Street, Suite MI109
Charleston, SC 29425 

Hours of Operation:

• Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Saturday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Preclinical MRI Fact Sheet (PDF)

 

The BioSpec 70/30 MRI scanner is a multipurpose system for high-resolution MR spectroscopy and imaging. It operates at 7 Tesla, and has a warm bore diameter of 30 cm. The system is equipped with a 12 cm gradient and shim coil set (B-GA 12S2), capable of generating maximum gradient amplitude of 440 mT/m, rise time of 80 to 120 us, slew rate of 4570 T/m/s, and 4-channel receiver for multi-coil operation.

The center has one 86 mm 1H quadrature volume transmitting only coil, one 72 mm 1H quadrature volume transmit-receive coils (rat), one 72 mm 1H linear volume transmit-receive coils (rat), one 35mm 1H quadrature volume transmit-receive coils (mouse), one phased array 1H rat brain surface coil, and one phased array 1H mouse brain surface coil. One 1H surface coild for mice and rats scanning.

The operating console has Paravision 5.1 and 6.0.1, which features the following: built-in parallel acquisition; push-button GRAPPA reconstruction; EPI, navigator techniques for motion reduction; ultra-short TE acquisition; Half-Fourier encoding; self-gated IntraGate; real-time display of acquired and reconstructed data; sophisticated data archiving including DICOM export; and enhanced 2D and 3D data visualization.

The instrument is ideal for the following purposes: 2D and/or 3D high resolution anatomical imaging; diffusion and diffusion tensor imaging; flow imaging; cardiac imaging; dynamic contrast imaging; functional MRI; chemical shift imaging: and localized spectroscopy.

Small animal MRI-compatible monitoring and gating system (Model 1025) is from Small Animal Instruments (Stony Brook, NY, USA). It allows monitoring core temperature, ECG, breathing frequency, blood oxygen level, and pulse rate.

Small Animal Imaging Location:

Bioengineering Building, RM 235
68 President Street
Charleston, SC 29425

Ancillary Equipment

 

Pre-Clinical Anesthesia System (Small Animal)

• Manufacturer: Summit Anesthesia Solutions.
• Suitable for mouse and rat models.
• Complete with isoflurane vaporizer, rodent induction chamber, and tubing to maintain the rodents under anesthesia during MRI scanning.

Beds & Cradles for Biospec Systems 7T MRI

 

• Manufacturer: Bruker
• Rat and mice beds and cradles.
• Equipped with a nose cone for gas anesthesia, three point fixation system (tooth-bar and ear plugs), openings for throat access and stabilization of body temperature.

Monitoring Gating & Heater System

 

• Manufacturer: Small Animal Instruments, Inc.
• Model: 1025.
• Physiological monitoring and gating needs for anesthetized mice and rats in the MR environment.
• Monitoring: Electrocardiography (ECG, temperature), respiration, blood pressure, and auxiliary channels.
• Gating: ECG, respiratory, ECG and respiratory, auxiliary inputs.
• Heater system controls the temperature of small animals undergoing imaging procedure.

7T Coils

 

• Phased array 1H rat brain coil.
• Phased array 1H mouse brain coil.
• 1H surface coils.
• 35 mm 300W 1H quadrature transceiver volume coil.
• 72 mm 1000W 1H linear transceiver volume coil.
• 72 mm 1000W 1H quadrature transceiver volume coil.
• 86 mm 1000W 1H circular polarized transceiver volume coil

Coils available on the 3T Prisma

 

• 32 channel head coil - most frequently used head coil
• 20 channel head and neck coil - sometimes used on multisite trials
• 12 channel head Rapid TMS coil
• 15 channel knee coil
• 16 channel hand/wrist coil
• 24 channel spine coil
• 18 channel Flex coil
• 4 channel Flex coil

Presentation Computers

 

• 2x Windows 10 (1803) Dell Precision 5820 rack mounted workstations with Intel Quad Core Processors, GeForce GTX 1060 3GB Graphics Cards
• Supports E-Prime 2 and E-Prime 3 (Eprime 3 is strongly preferred).
• One workstation is dual booted with Ubuntu 18.04.
• 13-inch, mid 2012 Macbook Air, running OSX 10.8.5 to support MIST and MATLAB 2012a running Psychtoolbox 3.0.12. Used for legacy experiments.
• Connected to Projection system, button response boxes, eyetracker, MRI audio system, triggers from MRI scanner

Hyperion Projector

 

• MR-compatible projector used for presenting visual stimulus during fMRI studies.
• Output image is reflected on projection screen for viewing.
• View additional information from the vendor (PDF).   

Current Designs 932 Button Boxes

 

• Primary MRI subject response system is the Pyka handpad, which can be used in either left or right hand
• Simple USB-HID interface, sub 1ms latency
• FORP Pyka
• Additional handpads for specific studies
• Two Button Blue Yellow Response Pad

MRA fMRI Button Box

• MRA Inc. button response console.
• MR-compatible, five button adjustable Velcro subject response unit.
• Windows and MAC compatible using Cedrus rb-834 drivers.
• Adjustable fiber optic gain.
  
  

Avotec Audio System

• Avotec Audio System
• Used to communicate with subjects inside MRI scanner, can also play music, audio stimulus, and record vocal responses.

Biopac

• Biopac
• Preferred system for mri-compatible physiological monitoring of respiration rate (chest strap), heart rate (pulse plethysmograph or EKG), and Electrodermal affect (EDA)
• Dedicated Lenovo Thinkpad X1 Carbon laptop (Windows 10 1803) is used for Biopac acquisition using Acknowledge 4.4

MP150 Unit

Siemens Physio Monitors

• Siemens Bluetooth Physiological Monitors.
  • Four lead ECG.
  • Pulse oximetry.
  • Respiratory waveforms.
• Physiological data can be monitored in real time and recorded for analysis making modification to Siemens sequences IDEA.
• Gating of MRI sequences using physiological data is also possible.

Eyelink 1000 Eyetracker

• MR-compatible eye tracking camera from Eyelink.
• Long range mount configuration

View additional information from the vendor (PDF).

Magstim TMS

• Magstim Rapid 2 Transcranial Magnetic Stimulator.
• Cortical magnetic stimulation within a MRI scanner.
• Connects through a custom RF filter through a wave guide into the MR room.
• Stimulation rate controlled by E-Prime programs.

The mock scanner is a full-size replica of the Siemens Prisma 3T MRI that is available to reserve for ‘trial runs’ with patients who are wary of undergoing the full scanning procedure. It is equipped with a visual cue display system as well as the ability to play the sounds of the MRI sequences so it is useful for training or as a demonstration tool. The bore diameter is the same as the Siemens Prisma scanner so it is useful in acclimating potential subjects that may be claustrophobic to the MRI environment without having to reserve time on the real scanner.

To reserve the mock scanner, please visit Calpendo.

 

The Center for Biomedical Imaging has 5 interview rooms available for working with subjects before an after research scans at the 3T scanner. One of the rooms has a networked computer to administer Redcap surveys and demonstrate research tasks. All interview rooms are covered by MUSC Secure WIFI connectivity for other devices. We ask that all interview rooms be reserved in Calpendo.