Insight Neuroimaging Systems, Inc.

Craig F Ferris

Reinhold Ludwig

Gene Bogdanov

Arthur C Allard

Jean A King

A dual-tuned volume coil for performing MR imaging according to one embodiment includes an inner cylinder having a first coil structure disposed on an inner surface thereof and a second coil structure disposed on an outer surface thereof. The first coil structure operates at a first resonance frequency and the second coil structure operates at a second resonance frequency. The volume coil includes an outer shield disposed about the inner cylinder, with the first and second coil structure being connected to the outer shield by means of a plurality of capacitors.

Dual-tuned microstrip resonator volume coil

In one aspect, a restraining assembly for an awake animal within a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) device is provided and includes a body restrainer having a first part and a second part that hold a body of the awake animal therebetween. The assembly is of a dual coil design in that it has a volume coil for generating an excitation RF signal and an RF surface coil for receiving an RF response from the animal. The assembly further includes components that serve to restrain movements of the animal, thereby eliminating motion artifacts during the MRI procedure. For example, the assembly preferably includes an adjustable hip holder that has a first section that seats against and applies a restraining force to a buttocks/hip area of the animal and a second section that is adjustably coupled to a pivoting member that is attached to the first section of the body restrainer such that the hip holder is adjustable in both a longitudinal direction along a length of the body restrainer and an up/down direction within the body restrainer between the first and second parts thereof. The pivoting member having features that permit the hip holder to be locked in a desired location so that a sufficient restraining force is applied the animal.

Method and apparatus for performing neuroimaging

The present invention relates to systems and methods of performing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in awake animals. The invention utilizes head and body restrainers to position an awake animal relative to a radio frequency dual coil system operating in a high field magnetic resonance imaging system to provide images of high resolution without motion artifact.

The present invention relates to a restraining assembly used in neuroimaging of animals in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) systems. The body of the animal under study is secured within a tube with a head holder to reduce motion artifacts, particularly when the animal is awake. The tube is placed in the bore of the MRI system to conduct imaging procedures with a radio frequency coil adjacent to the animals' head.

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Holden, MA, United States of America

Craig F Ferris