Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
The Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Facility is equipped with a new Agilent 9.4 Tesla MRI system that is able to image small animals and samples up to 7.5 cm in diameter. An isofluorane anesthesia system, body temperature control and vital signs monitoring system were installed.
RRC Preclinical MRI Facility is a 2,000 sq. ft. animal imaging laboratory located in the basement of the Clinical Sciences North Building on the UIC Medical Campus. The facility is equipped with a new Agilent 9.4 Tesla MRI system that is able to image small animals and samples up to 7.5 cm in diameter. An isofluorane anesthesia system, body temperature control and monitoring system for vital signs (temperature, respiration and ECG), and MRI-compatible small animal gating system (SA Instruments) are installed to permit free-breathing acquisition during quantitative MRI measurements. For specific applications, the 31 cm bore size 9.4 T Agilent MRI system can provide the full support of MRS and MRI studies in rodents. The current system includes a complete set of two heavy duty and efficient gradient coils (o.d./i.d.: 205/120 HD, 300A, 600mT/m; and 115/60 HD, 200A, 1000mT/m). In order to further improve image signal-to-noise ratio, different designated imaging RF coils are available. Three volume Birdcage quadrature coils can be used to image whole body and organ specific volume (i.d./od.: 39/59, 38/119 and 72/119 mm). Two sets of 4 channel phased array coils are also available for acquisition of specific areas of interest such as rodent hearts, prostste and the neurological system. Two multi-nuclei surface coils are also available for image acquisition in rodent tumor models and for the acquisition of magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) data for in vivo biochemical analysis. Advanced MR elastography sequences, utrashort time imaging (SWIFT sequences), and multi-nuclei MRS techniques are being developed.
The combination of the scanner versatile design, efficient shimming, robust gradients and imaging RF coils, enhanced visualization of soft-tissue contrast in rodent pre-clinical models, such as prostate cancer model, becomes a reality. The 9.4 T preclinical MRI system provides investigators with a great opportunity to study in vivo disease models non-invasively. The rate for animal imaging at our MRI facility is $150/hr for UIC users with half rate for holiday and weekends.