The CBIC 3T Siemens human magnet lab supports a multi-disciplinary array of researchers studying the way the brain functions. Several of the research groups use visual and auditory stimuli in conjunction with fMRI techniques to study brain functions. Subjects perform tasks in the scanner ranging from maintaining simple optical fixation to making complex decisions using buttons or key presses. Researchers can use projectors or special goggles to deliver the images to the subject in the scanner. Some groups are studying the emotional responses involved in decision-making; and still others are studying physiologic changes that occur within the brain as part of the neuroeconomic process of making everyday financial decisions.
Functional MRI accessories currently in use at the Center include visual stimulus goggles, multiple projection systems, several types of subject response devices such as buttons or trackballs, and eye-tracking with human subjects. Our "Zero-Tesla" training room has duplicates of most the equipment used in the scan room and a full-scale scanner mock-up to provide an excellent development and testing environment. We offer full physiological monitoring for animal and human subjects large volume data storage and network capabilities (2TB+ of network storage with tape backup). We also have on-site wet chemistry, radioisotope, and electronics labs and a small machine shop to facilitate imaging coil and other hardware development.
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Siemens Trio 3T MRI scanner
Full body scanner with Sonata Gradient Set
60cm bore is 1.8 meters long
200mT/M/S maximum slew rate
40mT/M maximum amplitude
35KW RF amplifier
Water-Cooled gradients
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CBIC 3T Siemens Human Subjects Laboratory:
Siemens Trio 3 Tesla Moore Foundation MR scanner: Full Body system with Sonata Gradient set (gradient amplitude of 40mT/m, and maximum slew rate of 200T/m/sec. with minimum gradient rise time of 200 microseconds). The scanner is 1.8m in length and has a bore size of 60cm. The Siemens Trio is equipped with 16 RF channel receivers accommodating up to 16 element array coils.
Software packages include: BOLD, 3D, MRA, Spectroscopy, and Cardiac processing in addition to full complement of routine scan techniques (Syngo v25a Siemens software level). Other features include Hyperscan for reduced SAR during FSE imaging, SE and GRE EPI, Diffusion and DTI, MPRAGE, FLAIR, TOF and PC MRA. Caltech has an IDEA license agreement that allows trained users to develop improved and novel imaging pulse sequences.
Available coils: CP transmit/receive head coil from Siemens, 8 Channel head array from Siemens/MRI Devices, 8 channel cardiac array from Siemens, 8 channel visual array from Nova Medical, 7 cm surface coil from Nova Medical, TEM transmit/receive head coil from MR Instruments.
Functional Imaging Accessories: 2 and 4 button response pads from Current Designs, fiber optic joystick and trackball from Current Designs, video display goggles from Resonance Technologies with eyetracking using Arrington Research software, ASL eyetracker, stereo headphones from MR Confon, Infocus projector with screen, and physiologic monitoring from Invivo.
Image acquisition options: Respiratory Gating. Scans can be designed to collect data only when a subject is at a particular part of the respiratory cycle to help reduce motion. Cardiac Gating. Moving heart muscle and flowing blood in major vessels can cause motion artifacts on MR images. By timing the period of data collection to coincide with the quiet phase of the cardiac cycle, these artifacts can be eliminated or reduced. Rapid acquisition Breathhold techniques can be used to eliminate respiratory motion for short duration 2D anatomical scans. These scans are commonly used when imaging the abdomen and thorax.
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