| EPSRC Reference: |
GR/L34846/01 |
| Title: |
APPLICATION OF THE ABERDEEN SQUID/MRI RECEIVER TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF A COMPACT LOW FIELD IMAGING SYSTEM |
| Principal Investigator: |
Hutchison, Dr J |
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| Department: |
Biomedical Physics and Bioengineering |
| Organisation: |
University of Aberdeen |
| Scheme: |
Standard Research (Pre-FEC) |
| Starts: |
01 October 1996 |
Ends: |
31 March 2000 |
Value (£): |
298,822
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| EPSRC Research Topic Classifications: |
| Instrumentation Eng. & Dev. |
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Summary on Grant Application Form |
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The main cost in high field magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) lies in the superconducting magnets used to produce the main field. We propose a compact, low cost, open access system based on a novel resistive magnet design, producing a main field of 0.01T over a 5-10 am diameter imaging volume. This volume is projected into free space to one side of the magnet, rather than being enclosed by the windings as in a conventional design, to allow the compact system to image regions of the head, neck and limbs. At the low 0.01T field strength the systems noise would normally be dominated by the intrinisic losses of the receiver coil, rather than sample noise. We have developed a liquid helium cooled (4.2K) superconducting receiver coil and SQUID preamplifier, with higher sensitivity than an thin film high temperature superconducting (HTS) coil cooled to 77K. The unique part of this system is our ultra low noise liquid helium cryostat design. We intend to increase the helium hold time of our cryostat by incorporating cryocooled radiation shield in place of the present vapour cooled shield. We will use our SQUID based receiver together with suface RF transmit and gradient coils to form a fully single sided imager.
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Key Findings |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Potential use in non-academic contexts |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Impacts |
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| Description |
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk |
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Sectors submitted by the Researcher |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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| Project URL: |
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| Further Information: |
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| Organisation Website: |
http://www.abdn.ac.uk |