Laboratory:The High-Field Advanced Imaging Center (AIC) occupies over 2000 sq. ft. at the McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine (MIRM) research building at the University of Pittsburgh. The AIC houses two state-of-the-art Bruker high-field MRI scanners: a horizontal-bore 9.4T/31-cm system and a vertical-bore 11.7T microimaging system. The space includes a 300 sq. ft. surgical/preparation room adjacent to the magnet laboratories as well as an electronics/machine shop including a 3D printer for manufacturing custom RF coils and animal handling accessories.
9.4T/31cm Bruker AVANCE AV3 HD Scanner
The 9.4-T/31-cm actively-shielded magnet was recently upgraded with a Bruker Biospec AVIII HD console and new imaging accessories. The system has two transmitter channels and 8 receiver channels driven by a Linux workstation running ParaVision 6.0.1 software. This system is equipped with one 2 kW broadband amplifier and one 1 kW broadband amplifier and 300A/500V IECO gradient amplifiers. Two magnetic field Gradient sets are available, including a 21-cm diameter gradient set capable of a maximum gradient strength of 230 mT/m with a 375 msec rise time and a 12-cm BGA-12S2 HD gradient set with a maximum gradient strength of 660 mT/m and a 120 usec rise time. There are a variety of Bruker animal handling accessories (beds, stereotaxic holders, etc) for in vivo imaging of rodents as well as an assortment of RF resonators, including 23 mm, 40 mm 72 mm, 86 mm coils and receiver phased array coils for rodent neuro- and cardiac imaging applications. Dual-tuned coils are available for x-nuclei, including 19F, 31P and 13C. The ParaVision 6.0.1 software has a full complement of add-on software licenses for in vivo imaging and spectroscopy applications including fMRI, cardiac IntraGate, ultra-short TE (UTE), diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), relaxometry, in vivo spectroscopy etc. There is also a full complement of MR compatible anesthesia, physiology and monitoring equipment necessary for carrying out state-of-the-art in vivo studies
11.7T Bruker AVANCE AV3 HD MicroImaging System
The 11.7 Tesla system consists of a vertical-bore 11.7T/89mm actively shielded magnet interfaced with a Bruker AVANCE III HD console with microimaging accessories and ParaVision 6.0.1. The system has two magnetic field gradient inserts: a 57-mm mini0.75 insert and a 40-mm micro2.5 set capable of 450 mT/m and 1500 mT/m, respectively. The system is capable of imaging small rodents in vivo with Bruker AHS probes and accessories. It is also equipped with a microscopy probe body with variable temperature control and an assortment of solenoid, birdcage and quadrature resonators ranging in sizes from 2.5 mm to 30 mm inner diameters. Dual-tuned coils are available for x-nuclei, including 19F, 31P, 13C, and 23Na. The ParaVision 6.0.1 software has a full complement of add-on software licenses for imaging and spectroscopy applications including echo-planar imaging (EPI), cardiac IntraGate, ultra-short TE (UTE), diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), relaxometry, in vivo spectroscopy, etc.