Most of our work is focused on
- Ultrahigh-Field (7 Tesla) Human MRI Developments
- MRI RF Coil Design and Methodology for Neuro, Extremity and Whole-Body Applications
- Applications of Ultrahigh Field MRI in Late Life Depression, Alzheimer’s Disease, Mild Cognitive Impairment, Brain Aging, Midlife Disparities, Childhood Adversity, Normal Aging, Sickle Cell Disease, Schizophrenia, Arm Transplantation and Drug Delivery Using Magnetic Nano Particles.
But we also have developed
- Antennas for Brain Computer Interface
- Anthropomorphic, Heterogeneous, Anatomically-Detailed Human Phantoms.
Facilities and Programs
7 Tesla (T) Bioengineering Research Program
Director: T. S. Ibrahim (PhD)
- 7 Tesla (T) human MRI scanner is housed in the basement of the Biomedical Science Tower 3, the same building and floor as the RF Research Facility. A description of the 7T System is provided below.
- A list of the RF coil and array systems currently used for 7T human imaging studies is provided below.
- Currently, the 7TBRP occupies the 7T Human MRI scanner 3.5 full weekdays and 1 full weekend day per week. Scanner bookings and acquisitions are handled by the 7T Bioengineering Research Program.
Radiofrequency (RF) Research Facility
Director: T. S. Ibrahim (PhD)
RF Laboratory
The RF Research Facility (Biomedical Science Tower 3) contains all the necessary equipment for designing and constructing MRI coils/antennas and electromagnetic devices for different types of medical applications. The Facility includes state of the art RF testing equipment. A list of the available RF equipment is provided in the Equipment Section.
Machine Shop
The RF Research Facility includes a mechanical workshop that includes a 3D printer, annealing oven, vertical stationary band saw, and drill press with accessories for fabrication of metal, fiberglass, and plastic supports for antennas, coils, and phantoms. A list of the available machining equipment is provided in the Equipment Section.
Computational Capabilities and Storage Systems
The RF Research Facility includes extensive computational capabilities and storage systems. A list of the available computational resources is provided in the Equipment Section.
Equipment
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
7T Magnetom Whole-Body MRI System
This 7T system is a Siemens retrofit of a GE magnet. As part of this retrofit, the scanner was upgraded to 32 independent receive-channels, each of them with multi-nuclear capabilities. The 7T supports parallel transmission capabilities with the addition of a parallel transmission unit from Siemens Medical Systems. This unit provides 8 independent transmission channels. The 7TBRP has recently upgraded the 7T system with a state-of-the-art SC72 Siemens gradient coil system with a max slew rate = 200 T/m/s with a peak gradient strength = 80 mT/m per axis.
RF Coil Systems
60-ch Tx with 32-ch Rx 7T Anti-claustrophobia Tic Tac Toe RF Head Coil System (Version 2: 2022):
- Transmit: 1 to 60 Channels
- Receive: (insert style) 32 Channels
- Parallel/Single Transmit Systems: Works on both
- Currently used in > 33 active NIH funded studies on the sTx mode without subject specific RF shimming
- Open from the above the eyes down (see below). Allows for front and back stimuli projection (see below)
- Extended coverage to C5-C6 on T1 and T2 weighted sequences (see below)
- Can operate in pTx mode with 8, 16, or more Tx channels (5-minute swap from sTx mode)
A video projector and audio system along with response gloves are used for stimulus presentation & recording.
16-ch Tx with 32-ch Rx 7T Tic Tac Toe RF Head Coil System (Version 1: 2015):
- Transmit: 1 to 16 Channels
- Receive: (insert style) 32 Channels (Fig. A-D below)
- Parallel/Single Transmit Systems: Works on both
- Was used in > 30 NIH funded studies on the sTx mode without subject specific RF shimming
- Can operate in pTx mode with 8 or 16 Tx channels (5-minute swap from sTx mode)
7T Rapid Biomed Dual Tuned 31P-1H RF Head Coil System
- Transmit: 2 Channels
- Receive: 2 Channels
- Parallel/Single Transmit Systems: Single Transmit
7T TEM RF Head Coil System
- Transmit: 4 Channels
- Receive: (insert style) 14 Channels
- Parallel/Single Transmit Systems: Works on both
7T Tic Tac Toe RF Breast Coil System
- Transmit: 1 to 8 Channels
- Receive: (insert style) 8 Channels
- Parallel/Single Transmit Systems: Works on both
7T Tic Tac Toe RF Whole-Body Coil System
- Transmit: 1 to 32 Channels
- Receive: (insert style) 16 Channels
- Parallel/Single Transmit Systems: Works on both
7T Tic Tac Toe RF Ankle/Foot Coil System
- Transmit: 1 to 4 Channels
- Receive: (insert style) 4 Channels
- Parallel/Single Transmit Systems: Works on both
7T TEM Knee RF Coil System
- Transmit: 1 to 4 Channels
- Receive: (insert style) 8 Channels
- Parallel/Single Transmit Systems: Works on both
7T TEM Hand/Arm Coil System
- Transmit: 1 to 4 Channels
- Receive: (insert style) 8 Channels
- Parallel/Single Transmit Systems: Single Transmit
Physiological Measurements with 7T MRI
- BIOPAC MP160 data acquisition system with AcqKnowledge software
- EEG100C-MRI Electroencephalogram (EEG) Amplifier module
The system is capable of acquisition, analysis of multiple channels with speeds of up to 400kHz and amplification of bioelectric potentials associated with brain activity.
Fully Dedicated Computational Resources
- Super computer cluster – 352-core/1.3TB (RAM) 64-bit AMD Architecture
- 80 Terabyte RAID for data storage
- 2x Hi-end Workstations with Intel Xeon Gold, 80-cores and 160-threads total, and 768GB of memory total
- 2x high-end GPUs, with 9216 CUDA cores and 48GB of memory total
- 4x Desktop computers with Intel Core-i7 processors, 16-cores and 32-threads total, 192GB of memory total, and with mid-end NVIDIA GTX GPU, with 7680 CUDA cores and 32GB of memory in total
Machining and 3D Printing
- 3D Printer
Intamsys Funmat Pro 410
The Funmat Pro 410 is a dual nozzle, industrial grade Fused Filament Fabrication machine capable of printing parts 12 x 12 x 16 inches at 50-micron resolution. The enclosed internal chamber heats to 90°C, has an EO1 chamber air filter and camera for remote monitoring. The heated build plate reaches 160°C and the extruder heats to 500°C. The system has automatic build plate leveling, nozzle cleaning and filament run out or jamming detection. The printer can manufacture in the following materials: PEEK, PEI, PEI Blends, PPSU, PA/CF, PC, PC Alloys, PA, ABS, Carbon Fiber-Filled, Metal-Filled, Fiberglass-Filled, Nylon, ASA, PETG, ESD-Safe, HIPS, TPU, PLA, PVA, Supports, Fully Open Material System.
- Annealing Oven
Yamato DVS 402C Programmable Natural Convection Oven
The Yamato DVS 402C is an industrial grade laboratory oven capable of heating parts up to 260˚C with ±1˚C tolerance of temperature accuracy. With an internal dimension of 17.7 x 19.3 x 17.7 inches it has the capacity to anneal all parts printed with our 3D printer to provide optimal tensile strength and minimal creep. It is also suitable for drying most filaments before printing.
- Vertical Stationary Band Saw and Drill Press
RF/Phantom/Temperature Equipment
- 12-channel network analyzer
- DAK – high-precision dielectric measurement system for liquids, solids and semi-solids
- 8-channel fiber optic thermometry
- Chemistry kits for designing biological phantoms