The small animal imaging facility provides state of the art MR in-vivo imaging and spectroscopy capabilities. On-going projects cover a wide range of applications that range from basic biology to preclinical/biomedical projects. The MR compatible Positron Emission Tomography insert allows simultaneous functional imaging of molecular processes. The lab is equipped with a full range of physiological monitoring and control instruments. The facility also provides an electronics laboratory, small machining facility and resources for basic handling of chemical and radioactive agents.
Our Bruker 7.0T PET/MRI is a unique system that integrates a high resolution multi-slice microPET scanner within a 7T/30cm small animal MR system. The microPET scanner insert for the animal MR scanner consist of four axial rings of LSO scintillator crystals. Each crystal will measure approximately 1.8 x 1.8 mm in cross-section, by 12 mm long, and will be coupled with its own individual optical fiber to a multi-channel PMT (photomultiplier tube). The inter-crystal pitch will be around 2 mm after accounting for reflector material between the crystals. There will be a total of 768 detector elements in the system (192 per ring), with an inner ring diameter of ~12 cm and an outer diameter of ~16 cm. The crystals will be read out either by a set of twelve 64 channel PMTÕs or by an array of avalanche photodiodes, which are relatively insensitive to magnetic fields PMT. The axial field of view will be approximately 8 mm. The microMRI system is a Bruker Biospec/Avance 7T/30cm in vivo spectroscopy imaging system. The system will have autoshim control, rack mounted w/ CPU and RF separated 1H and 19F observe hi-freq channels, broadband X-freq observe channel, quadrature detection system (22MHz IF), 16bit 2MHz sampling, and extensive RF and gradient pulse shaping capabilities. This will enable high quality microPET and microMR data to be acquired simultaneously and in near-perfect spatial registration.
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