MR Laboratories

• 3T Research MR System
A Philips Achieva 3T MR system equipped with Philips' SENSE accelerated imaging hardware and software as well as a multitude of image acquisition sequences is fully dedicated to research and available on campus. The system features sixteen RF receiver channels and a high performance gradient system ("Quasar Dual High Performance Gradient System") capable of on axis (x, y and z) 80 mT/m peak and 200 mT/m/ms slew rate. The system is also equipped with high linearity actively shielded gradient coil designed to be force balanced at 3.0T to minimize eddy currents and acoustic noise along with a state-of-the-art water-cooled gradient amplifier technology combined with a non-resonant coil design. The system features a 60-cm patient bore diameter and a fully automatic high order shimming (up to 2nd order) to ensure excellent image quality over a 40-cm imaging FOV. The system also provides a >1200 images per second reconstruction speed and supports DICOM, NIfTI-1, and Philips' PAR/REC image formats. Currently available RF coils include T/R Body, T/R Head, 8 channel SENSE Head, CTL Spine, 6 channel SENSE Cardiac, and 6 channel SENSE Torso. The system is housed at the Center for Functional Onco-Imaging (CFOI) and currently used for human research studies such as fMRI and diffusion tensor imaging (selectable up to 128 directions).

• 4T/94-CM BORE MR SYSTEM
A Philips 4 Tesla whole body MR system is available at the center for human and animal studies. The 4T whole body magnet (Magnex Scientific Inc.) with a clear bore of 940 mm is interfaced with a Marconi Medical Systems EDGE console for the pulse sequence generation and data acquisition. This system in narrow band mode operates at 170MHz. It uses a 12 KW CPC (Model 4T12K) RF amplifier that has a frequency range of 160-180 MHz. For spatial encoding, a whole body gradient coil built by Tesla is used. The coil is actively shielded and water-cooled also includes a 13-channel shim set. When it is used with a gradient amplifier system from MTS QDCM 950/200/4400, it generates fields up to 30 mT/m with a slew rate of 115 T/meters/second at 950 Volts/440 Amperes. The large bore size of the system enables us to integrate various other imaging instrumentations into the bore thus making it possible to pursue multi-modality imaging. The system has various pulse sequences for different imaging needs. Rapid sequences like Echo Planar Imaging (EPI), Fast Spin Echo (FSE), and Spoiled Gradient Recalled Acquisition at Steady State (SPGR) are available. The system is also interfaced to an ISOL console (Model ISOL ISP-400) for multinuclear applications. The ISOL spectrometer has 12 receiver channels with 8 channels dedicated for H-1 MR while one channel each for Na-23, P-31, F-19, and C-13. For multinuclear applications we also have a 4 KW CPC (Model 5T4KS) RF amplifier with a frequency range of 20-210 MHz. Various home-built RF coils including multi-frequency small animal birdcage, and surface coils are available.

• 7T/15-CM BORE MR SYSTEM
This system uses an Oxford 300/150 horizontal magnet with an inner bore size of 150 mm. The magnet is interfaced to an upgraded SMIS broadband console (MR Research Systems MR3330) for multi-nuclear applications. There is a Resonance Research actively shielded and water cooled gradient coil (Model BFG-150/90-S) with a gradient strength of 300 mT/m, a 100 sec rise time, and an inner diameter of 90 mm. The gradient coil also has a 13-channel built-in shim set. The system employs up to 2 Techron 7700 gradient amplifiers per axis and a Dressler 400-watt RF amplifier with a bandwidth 30-305 MHz (Model LPPA 3004). Various small animal RF coils including birdcage, surface, and dual resonance coils have been built in-house for research studies. Additionally various electronic circuitry has also been built for physiological gating during image acquisition.

• GE NXI ADVANCE WHOLE BODY PET SYSTEM
The PET system is available for human and animal studies. It is a state-of-the-art positron emission tomography scanner, optimized for clinical studies but powerful and flexible enough for a wide range of research applications, with particularly strong capabilities in oncology and neuroscience.

• SMALL ANIMAL SPECT SYSTEM
A small animal SPECT system is available at the center. The system employs a SIEMENS ORBITAL camera with a pinhole collimator. The animal is placed into a holder that moves in equal angular steps under computer control. The system works in the step-and-shoot mode for the acquisition of projection images. The reconstruction is based on the Feldkamp algorithm modified for a pin-hole collimator and was developed in house.

• ACTIVATION HARDWARE

• MR-DOS SYSTEM
This system uses a combined frequency-domain (FD) and steady-state (SS) technique that is integrated into the 4T MR system. At the core of the frequency-domain instrument is a network analyzer (HP 8753C), that is used to modulate the intensity of diode lasers, and to measure the phase and amplitude of the diffusely reflected optical signal detected by an avalanche photodiode (Hamamatsu APD C556P-56045-03). Six diode lasers at wavelengths of 661, 681, 783, 806, 823 and 850 nm are intensity modulated from 50 to 500 MHz sweeping a total of 294 frequencies. The SS instrument is composed of a tungsten-halogen light source (Ocean Optics LS-1) and a spectrometer (Ocean Optics S2000). The combination of FD and SS data allows for the determination of broadband absorption and scattering spectra of the tissue (typically 650-1000 nm). The FD and SS light were delivered to the sample through optical fibers that were secured in a Delrin probe. Two detection fibers for the FD and SS measurement are each fixed in the probe at a distance of 6 mm from their corresponding source fiber. The DOS measurements are performed by placing the optical probe at the surface of the sample. The method used to determine the optical properties is explained in detail by Bevilaqua et al. The absorption coefficient (µa) spectrum is obtained using diffusion theory. Finally, chromophore concentrations are determined by a linear least-squares fit of the absorption spectra of the chromophores to the measured absorption spectrum over the 650-1000 nm wavelength range. When used to measure tissue in vivo, the parameters that are extracted from the chromophore fit include HbO2, Hb, H2O and lipid content.

• MR-OCT/OCDT SYSTEM
The OCT system using a broadband light source with the center wavelength at 1300 nm (OptoSpeed, SLED1300S20A) employs a fiber-optic based Michelson interferometer in detecting coherence gated backscattered light signal from sample for simultaneous high-resolution tomographic imaging of static and moving constituents. The light from source is coupled into the interferometer via single-mode optical fiber with attenuation less than 0.4 dB/km at 1310 nm and divided at a 2 x 2 fiber coupler into reference and sample arms of the interferometer consisting of the same single-mode optical fiber type. An MR-compatible optical probe, which was designed based on a piezoelectric transducer bender (Polytec, PL140) for lateral scanning capability and on a conventional lens relay system for light relay to and from the sample, is connected to sample arm via single-mode optical fiber for light transmittal and detection duty inside a high magnetic field environment. Axial (depth) scanning capability of system as well as control of detected signal’s carrier frequency is achieved by rapid scanning optical delay line employed in reference arm, which was designed based on group delay generation using Fourier domain optical pulse shaping technology that employs a diffraction grating (Richardson Gratings, 53-560R) and a galvano mirror (Nutfield Technology, HarmonicScan-15). The backscattered light from sample that is collected by optical probe and path-length matched at 2 x 2 fiber coupler between the reference and sample arms is amplified and detected by an InGaAs-based photo detector (Thorlabs, PDA400) which is coupled to the 2 x 2 fiber coupler via single-mode fiber. The detected signal is digitized with a 12-bit A/D converter (National Instrument, NI6115) before being transferred to a PC for image process. All of sensitive optical and electronic components of system are mounted on an optical table (TMC, CleanTop II) and positioned in a location away from strong magnetic field environment of 4T MR scanner. Image processing involves short-time fast Fourier transform on the detected time-domain signal in which the static and velocity images of sample are constructed using the power spectrum at carrier frequency of detected signal and the Doppler shift in center frequency of power spectrum, respectively.

Physics and Engineering Laboratory

• NMR ELECTRONICS LAB & OTHER EQUIPMENT
We have a fully equipped electronics lab that is used for building RF and gradient coils as well as other necessary hardware for NMR research. In addition to a complete set of electronic measurement devices we also have:

RF Impedance Test Kit

Impedance Analyzer	Hewlett Packard (HP)
Spectrum Analyzer	HP4395A
Network Analyzer	100KHz - 500 MHz
Opt 010	Impedance Measurement Fcn.
Opt 1D6	Time Gated Spect. Analysis
HP87511A	50 ohm s-parameter Test Set
HP43961A
HP85032B	50 ohm type N, Calibration Kit
HP11851B	50 ohm, type N, RF Cable Kit
Oscilloscope	HP Infiniium
	54835A 4 ch,
	1GHz, 2G Sa
RF Freq. Counter	Hewlett Packard
	HP53181A
	225MHz
Signal Generator	Hewlett Packard
	HP ESG-4400B
	250KHz - 1GHz
H-Field Antenna (loop)	Hewlett Packard
	HP11966A
	10KHz - 30MHz
E-Field Antenna (rod)	Hewlett Packard
	HP11966B
	100 Hz - 30MHz
Dipole Antenna Set	Hewlett Packard
	HP11966H
	28MHz - 1GHz
RF Amplifier	Hewlett Packard
	HP8347A
	100KHz - 3GHz
RF Preamplifier	Hewlett Packard
	HP8447A
	0.1 - 400 MHz

• Computer Facilities
1. SUN UltraSparc 60
2. SUN Sparc20
3. SUN Sparc2
4. SUN LX
5. SUN IPC's
6. Various IBM and Macintosh PC's with assorted periphera

A layout of the CFOI is shown below.



• MACHINE SHOP
We have a fully equipped machine shop. In addition to the various equipment in this machine shop that are used for building necessary hardware for NMR, NIR and OCT/ODT and other imaging systems, we have a high precision lathe, a mill machine and a drill press.



High Precision Lathe (with a digital readout)	PRAZI II Apollo Series D600E
Mill Machine	Clausing
1/3 HP 8-in. Drill Press	Craftsman

Contrast Agent Development Laboratory (Irvine Hall Room 193)

The Contrast Agent Development Laboratory (CADL) houses equipment for general organic chemistry synthesis and quality control including: fume hoods, centrifuge, analytical balance, pH meter, refrigerator-freezer, TLC apparatus, controlled temperature water bath, ultrasonic bath, microscope, HPLC, rotary evaporator, vacuum pump, UV lamp, electrophoresis system, and large number of glassware used for organic synthesis.

Animal Tumor Laboratory (Irvine Hall Room 193B)

A small room which is adjacent to the CADL is setup as an Animal Tumor Laboratory where various animal tumors are being developed. A list of tumor models available in our laboratory include:


• Animal Tumor Lines

	Tumor Type	Host Animal
R3230 AC	mammary adenocarcinoma	Fischer rats
EMT6	mammary carcinoma	Bulb/c mice
J588Low	lymphoma	Bulb/c mice
Sp 2/0	lymphoma	Bulb/c mice
Walker 256	carcinosarcoma	S-D rats
C6	brain glioma	Wistar rats
VX2	papilloma	Rabbits

• HUMAN TUMOR XENOGRAFT

	Tumor Type	Host Animal
MCF7-wild type	breast carcinoma (wild type p53)	Nude mice
MCF7-ADR	breast carcinoma (mutant p53)	Nude mice
DLD-1	colon carcinoma (mutant K-ras)	Nude mice
DK03	colon carcinoma (wild type K-ras)	Nude mice
HT10806TG	fibrosarcoma (mutant N-ras)	Nude mice
603C8	fibrosarcoma (wild type N-ras)	Nude mice

The lab space includes benches, sinks, freezers, and fully equipped for research. Equipment available include: Light Microscope, centrifuges, refrigerator, surgical tools, and Doppler Model Bloodflow Meter.

OPTICAL IMAGING LABORATORY (IRVINE HALL ROOM 171)

We have a fully equipped optical imaging lab with OCT / ODT and Frequency Domain Photon Migration (FDPM) systems. This includes an optical table with four-gimbal piston isolators, which provides vibration isolation for especially interferometric applications such as OCT/ODT. The following is a list of the equipment available:

High performance Optical Lab Table (TMC-CleanTopII-63-563))
Superluminescent LED Source Module (1300nm, >30nm 3dB optical bandwidth, >16mW) (Optospeed-SLED1300S20)
8-Channel Laser Diode Controller (500mA) (ILX Lightwave-LDC-3908)
8x32 Fiber Optic Switch (Dicon Fiber 0ptics) (will be available in August 2002)
Several PMTs (Hamamatsu)
8 High Speed PMTs (R7400-20 Hamamtsu) (will be available in August 2002)
Fiber Optic Spectrometer (475nm-1000nm) (Ocean Optics, USB2000)
Optical Powermeter (20nW to 10mW) (Thorlabs, S110)
Low Noise Transimpedance Amplifier (DC-10kHz) (Tetrahertz Tech. PDA-700)
Low Noise Amplifiers (1Mhz-500Mhz) (Sonoma Instruments, Mi-Teq)
High Speed Optical Galvano Scanner and Controller Unit (Cambridge Technology-6210/67020)
Fiber Optic Isolator (1310nm,FC-APC) (Thorlabs-4013SA)
Fiber Optic Coupler (1310nm,WF) (Newport-F-CPL-F22135)
Fiber Optic Phase Modulator (Optiphase-PZ1-STD-FC/APC)
Diffraction Grating (1310nm,235.8 G/MM) (Richardson Grating Lab-5304BK-789)
10MHz Amplified InGaAs Detector (Thorlabs-PDA400)
100MHz High Speed Si Photo-Detector (Thorlabs-DET210)
ADC (12-bit, 4 x Analog Output, 8 x Digital I/O, 100MS/s) (National Instruments-6115)
DAC (12-bit, 4 x Analog Output, 8 x Digital I/O, 1MS/s) (National Instruments-6711)
ADC (12-bit,16 x analog Input, 8 x Digital I/O, 200KS/s) (National Instruments 6023E)
High Speed Data Acquisition System (LeCroy, w/ 6810 Waveform Recorder and 8901A GPIB interface)
Triple Output 30V/6A Power Supply (Topward-63060A)
Single Position Fiber Connectorization and Polishing System (Ultratec-UT-Minipol-1)
Several Translation Stages (Coherent-MacroMech Series)
Several Laser Diode Mounts with Thermoelectric Coolers (Thorlabs-TCLDM9)
Several Laser Diodes and Mounting Optics
Low Voltage Piezo-Electric Amplifier/Controller (PI-E-650.00)
Precision Achromatic Lenses, Laser Line Dielectric Mirrors, Kinematic and Gimbal Mounts
3 x 1.33 GHz PC with GPIB board
Various Optical Lab Equipment.