7 Tesla Human MRI Scanner
The 7 Tesla human MRI scanner was installed at FMRIB in 2011 and since then has been used to generate high resolution images of brain function and structure in many basic and clinical research studies.
Ultra high-field MRI offers exciting new possibilities to image the structure, function and biochemistry of the human brain in far greater detail than has previously been possible.
7 Tesla MRI is up to five times more sensitive to brain activation measured by fMRI. In addition to developing novel fMRI acquisition techniques, researchers are investigating ways to minimise the detrimental effects of subject movement, breathing and physiology.
The scanner is capable of producing exquisite images of brain structure. Susceptibility-weighted images (SWI) are highly sensitive to iron and myelin iron content of brain tissue. The high-performance gradients on this scanner are also ideal for improving the contrast and spatial resolution of diffusion images.
Another benefit of 7 Tesla is the ability to measure changes in the neurotransmitter GABA using Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy.
Our Siemens scanner is equipped with parallel transmit hardware and dynamic shimming capabilities, and researchers in the WIN Physics Group are actively developing methods to utilise this hardware to improve image quality, quantitation and acquisition speed.
If you are interested in using the 7 Tesla scanner please contact nancy.rawlings@ndcn.ox.ac.uk or speak to one of the radiography team.