Aberdeen Biomedical Imaging Centre
Research Facility: MR (Magnetic Resonance)
Following Paul Lauterbur's 1973 article in Nature, a small group of scientists at the University of Aberdeen were inspired to build a small scale MR imager which produced an image of a mouse in 1974. A decision was taken to construct a whole-body scanner and funding was obtained from the MRC in 1977. The scanner was completed in 1979 and good images of static structures were possible using a line-scanning method. A major breakthrough later that year, a two dimensional Fourier Transformation (2D-FT) technique called "spin-warp", in which the concept of phase encoding was used for the first time, led to high quality images of any part of the body being obtained in then remarkably short time of 2 minutes, despite the low field strength (0.04 T) and poor field homogeneity of the magnet used (up to 400 ppm at the edges of the whole body imaging volume). A precursor of the spin-warp idea was the first description of what is now known as blipped echo-planar imaging, which with spin-warp was patented by the group in 1980. Aberdeen conducted the first clinical whole-body MR scan in the world in August 1980.
Throughout the 1980s researchers at Aberdeen continued to make significant advances with the development of 3D-FT methods (1983), Fourier velocity imaging (1984), and proton-electron double resonance imaging (PEDRI) (1987). Following the installation of a Siemens 1 T scanner in 1992 to replace the in-house built scanner, and the establishment of a University Department of Radiology in 1996, Aberdeen has developed a wide ranging pre-clinical and clinical research programme which complements the long standing expertise in the scientific and instrumental aspects of MR.
In 2000, researchers moved into the Lilian Sutton Building at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary. This accommodates academic and support staff and a 3.0 T Philips Achieva research MR scanner, capable of advanced techniques such as diffusion tensor imaging and echo-planar functional brain imaging (fMRI) with full parallel imaging capabilities. In 2002 a Fonar positional MR scanner was installed in a new imaging research centre at Woodend Hospital in Aberdeen. This scanner allows images to be taken with subjects standing, sitting, and supine. The spine and joints can be imaged in flexed positions, and is designed for studies of the spine and joint function. A 4.7 T small bore facility located adjacent to the Institute of Medical Sciences, is available for MRI and MRS preclinical work facilitating translational research.
The research group has its own internal computer networks, allowing sharing of data and software and has a wide range of expertise in computer image analysis, RF coil design, supercooled quantum interference device (SQUID) RF receivers, and MR sequence development. The group also has a number of systems under development including: an ultra low field scanner; a field cycled MRI system; and a 7T system for imaging very short T2 samples including solids.
Enquiries into research opportunities using MR - contact Prof. Fiona Gilbert
Clinical MR: 1.5 T and 3 T
The imaging research group has two main clinical facilities housed in purpose built accommodation. A 3.0 T Philips Achieva research MR scanner, is located in the Lilian Sutton Building (LSB) at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary (ARI) at Foresterhill. Foresterhill is one of the largest hospital sites in the UK with the Royal Aberdeen Childrens' Hospital and Aberdeen Maternity Hospital in close proximity to ARI, the major teaching hospital for the north east of Scotland. This is co-located with a 1.5 T General Electric Echospeed CVi/NVi scanner, operated by NHS Grampian. There are conference, office and computing facilities at LSB which is adjacent to the NHS Grampian/University of Aberdeen John Mallard PET Centre.
Clinical MR: Positional
The second clinical MR facility is the Positional MR Centre at Woodend Hospital in Aberdeen, the main centre for orthopaedic surgery in the region. The facility has research offices and computing facilities and houses a 0.6 T Fonar Indomitable scanner. The Fonar 0.6 Tesla Indomitable positional MRI scanner was purchased with a Joint Research Equipment Initiative grant from the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council and has been operational since August 2002. This system, the first of its kind in Europe, allows patients to be imaged in the vertical as well as conventional horizontal position. It is the ultimate patient friendly MRI scanner, being very open and non-claustrophobic.
Studies are being undertaken looking at the changes in body mechanics between the standing and recumbent positions. It is also used to image the lumbar spine, hip, knee and ankle joints in both recumbent and weight bearing positions. For spine and joints it can also image in flexion and extension. There is also the potential for studying all organs under the normal effects of gravity, eg, pelvic floor.
Enquiries into research opportunities using pMRI - contact Professor F W Smith
MR Spectroscopy
The Philips 3.0T research scanner is capable of 1H proton spectroscopy and chemical shift imaging and we are in the process of upgrading to Phosphorous 31 spectroscopy. Our research proposals for spectroscopy include neurological and cardiac applications as well as oncology throughout the body.
Micro MR: 4.7 Tesla Small-Bore MRI
The 4.7 Tesla MRI system is used for research projects investigating human disease. The system consists of:
- Magnex 4.7 Tesla superconducting magnet;
- SMIS. console and pulse programmer;
- Magnex shielded gradient coils with Techron drivers capable of producing field gradients of 90mT/m with rise times of 200 s;
- Morris Instruments birdcage transmit/receive coil, and other RF coils of in-house design.
Contact Dr Hugh Seton for more information.