OHSU

AIRC 7T Instrument

AIRC 7T MRI Instrument

DESCRIPTION

The Siemens MAGNETOM 7T instrument is located in the Biomedical Research Building. The RF transmitter unit contains two independent digital RF transmitter channels, each capable of producing pulses with fully digital 1 MHz bandwidth, 32 bit frequency resolution, ≥16 bit phase resolution, and ≤50 ns time resolution.  Eight solid-state RF power amplifiers are included, each capable of producing ≥1 kW over 270-305 MHz.  If combined into one channel, these can produce ≥7 kW.  This configuration also supports B1 shimming when transmit phases and amplitudes are controlled independently and delivered to the phased array head coil. A second RF amplifier is broadband capable (40-305 MHz) with a single 7 kW output. The AVANTO gradient coil set (2000V/625A) is capable of producing field gradients of ≥45 mT/m, with high slew rates ≥200 T/(m*s). 


AIRC 7T Subject Preparation Area

TECHNICAL INFO

  • Field Strength/1H Frequency: 7 Tesla (T)/298 MHz
  • Clear bore/Working bore: 90 cm/60 cm
  • Gradient Strength/Slew Rate: ≥45 mT/m/ ≥200 T/(m*s)
  • Receiver channels: 32
  • Length/Mass: 3.7m/30 tons (490 tons with iron shield)


RADIO FREQUENCY COILS

The 7T MRI is equipped with two transmit/receive quadrature 1H (300 MHz) RF coils [one suitable for human head studies, the other for extremity studies], an 8-channel phased-array transmit/receive 1H (300 MHz) head RF coil, and a 31P (121 MHz) transmit/receive quadrature head RF coil. 


AIRC 7T Control Room

ACCESSORIES


MR INSTRUMENTS

 

SAMPLE IMAGES

A comparison of T1-weighted MPRAGE image quality at 3T (top row) and 7T (bottom row)

A comparsion of T1-weighted MPRAGE image quality at 3T (top row) and 7T (bottom row). Transverse, coronal and sagittal image orientations are shown in columns from left to right.  Both images sets were acquired in ~9 min. The volume resolution is 1.1 μL and 0.34 μL at 3T and 7T respectively. (Grinstead and Rooney)


MRI image quality compared at 3T and 7T using nearly identical acquisitions

MRI image quality compared at 3T and 7T using nearly identical acquisitions and quadrature transmit volume radiofrequency coils.  Signal/noise is improved ~2x at 7T compared to 3T. (Rooney and Grinstead).