Device information

Contact information regarding the device (LINK)
Further information on the device, in finnish (link)

 

MicroMRI

A 500 MHz spectroscopic magnet (Bruker BioSpin) with microimaging capabilities is used as the MicroMRI device.

The magnetic field strength of the magnet is 11.7 T. With its high field strength the device can be utilized in anatomical imaging and quantitative analysis of  unorthodox materials and samples (MRI-wise) . Furthermore, the high field strength provides an improved signal-to-noise ratio, and thus reduced scan times. Samples typically considered poorly visible in MRI may also be imaged thanks to  the high quality hardware and imaging protocols as well as the high magnetic field strength. MicroMRI can microscopically image samples with below 30 µm resolution safely and non-invasively.

The diversity of the device is also emphasized with various RF coils that provide suitable approaches for each application. Typically 1H (i.e. protons, from for example water) are investigated and the MicroMRI device incorporates 5mm and 10mm (diameter) RF coils that provide the best quality for suitable samples. Also an 8mm 13C (carbon-13 isotope) RF coil can be used, providing fascinating and novel approaches and methods for the detection of carbon-induced signal.

 

 

Three example images for MRI. MRI images of a pine seed, rat knee and mouse brain.

 

General information and properties of the device are listed below.

BRUKER ULTRASHIELD 500 MHZ
Field strength
 11.7T MicroMRI device Bruker Ultrashield 500MHz
Image area
 10mm × 15mm (diameter × height)
Sample size
 < 10 mm (diam.). Height is not restricted but the region to be imaged must be at the bottom of the sample tube.
Resolution
 20µm
Scan time
 Seconds to hours. Depends on the resolution and what is needed from the sample. For a biological sample with a quantitative 3D MGE imaging sequence with approx. 35µm (isotropic) pixel size the imaging time is approx. 1h 50min.
RF coils
 5mm (1H) |10 mm (1H) | 8mm (13C)

Measurement setting

 

The sample must fit at the bottom of a ⌀10mm sample tube. The image are is 15 mm in height but the image region can be moved 5-10mm (up/down, “move tolerance”). For smaller samples, a narrower sample tube can be used (⌀5mm) and a smaller RF coil providing a better resolution and signal-to-noise ratio.

Representation of the structures of the sample tube used for MRI. In the picture, the following structures are presented: sample tube, cap of the sample tube, sample tube holder and region to be imaged. The sample tube is a cylindrical glass tube 5-10 mm in diameter and 15-20 cm in length. The sample tube is placed vertically into the MicroMRI device. The sample tube holder is placed midway of the tube. The sample tube is open in one end and can be closed with a cap. The sample is placed at the closed end (bottom) of the tube where the region to be imaged resides.