7T Whole-Body MRI

7T Plus Scanner

Siemens MAGNETOM 7T Plus

This 7 Tesla system is a Siemens retrofit of a GE, 900mm, 10K, passively shielded, whole-body magnet (60cm patient bore). Installed In 2007, this magnet is located in the Basement of Biomedical Science Tower 3 (BST3). In August 2024, the 7T was upgraded to a 7T Plus, revitalizing the entire system. The upgrade includes Siemens’ 2nd and 3rd-order (20A/channel) 4-fold shimming cabinets. This will fully utilize the capabilities of the recently installed SC72D gradient coil system – featuring a maximum slew rate of 200 T/m/s and a maximum gradient amplitude (Gmax) of 70 mT/m per axis. The 7T Plus now operates with Siemens’ VE12U-AP01 software, supporting both single (combined) and 8-channel parallel transmission (pTx) studies. Additionally, the Siemens Measurement and Reconstruction System (MARS) was added during the upgrade to offer high-speed image reconstruction. The 7T Plus has 32 independent receive channels, each offering multi-nuclear capabilities. The system is equipped with an 8kW (1kW/channel) RF power amplifier for 1H studies and an 8kW broadband RF power amplifier for MNO (X-nuclei, e.g. 31P, 23Na, etc.) studies. As part of the Plus upgrade, the system was fitted with a motorized patient table. Front-facing projection is available for fMRI visual stimulus presentation.

MRI Compatible Audio Equipment
Optoacoustics System
Optoacoustics System – OptoACTIVE Genius EarPlugs and FOMRI III+ Microphone

The Optoacoustics system offers crystal-clear 2-way patient communication. The system is rated to attenuate 30-40dB of noise during the MRI. The system has active noise control, which can currently be used with sequences that have a TTL, aka a “trigger” (e.g. EPI and fast EPI sequences) to actively attenuate the noise experienced by the participant right at their eardrum. The FOMRI III+ microphone offers active noise control, providing clear patient audio during the scan. The OptoACTIVE EarPlugs and FOMRI III+ can also be used for low latency and high fidelity audio presentation for fMRI tasks requiring high-quality sound and low latency audio recording. The system can output audio for stimulus presentation or play music for patient comfort during the MRI scans.

Avotec Silent Scan 3200 System
Avotec Silent Scan 3200 System

The Avotec Silent Scan system offers 2-way patient communication, and several headsets for optimized comfort between participants. The 7TBRP utilizes the Avotec Conformal Headset (33dB NRR), the SonoCoil In-Ear Headset with Avotec adapter (33dB NRR), and the MRIAudio In-Ear MRI Headphones with Avotec adapter (29dB NRR). The system can output audio for stimulus presentation and play music for patient comfort through either an auxiliary input (e.g. computer output), or AM/FM radio.

SENSIMETRICS S15 Earphones
SENSIMETRICS S15 Earphones

The SENSIMETRICS S15 offers high-quality calibrated audio, with in ear output levels up to 110 dB SPL. The system has custom EQ filtering with MATLAB compatibility. As opposed to pneumatically driven audio systems, SENSIMETRICS S15 uses cabling designed to withstand higher field strength magnets, like 7T, without RF interference – providing crisper audio and low latency. The PreSonus Audiobox USB 96 is also available with this system for audio recording and increased audio customization. This is ideal for studies in Communications Science.  

Additional Resources

The Celeritas Button Response Unit is an MRI compatible solution for collecting participant responses during fMRI task presentations. The system integrates the TTL trigger signal from the MRI system, allowing the synchronization of the scanner with the stimulus presentation software (E-Prime/MATLAB/etc.). The system is equipped with both the 3 and the 5 button response units, available in left and right-handed configurations and inputs responses directly to the fMRI computers as a keyboard input.

Celeritas Button Response Unit

A large number of physiological measuring devices are available for use in the 7T MRI. These include several BIOPAC devices, NONIN fiberoptic SPO2, CareTaker4, and Siemens Wireless PMUs, etc. (For a detailed list, please see our NIH Facilities and Other Resources Document). Physiological measures include:
- SpO2 
- Heart Rate
- Blood Pressure
- Respiration
- ECG (3 lead)
- Exhaled Halogenated Gasses

7TBRP Physio Equipment

Psychology Software Tools Vision Correction Lenses – 22 anti-reflective lenses in 1/2 diopter increments from +/-2 diopters to +/-7 diopters.

PST Lenses

The 7TBRP has several spherical MRI phantoms for sequence optimization and RF coil development purposes. These include water, BRAINO MRS, and silicone phantoms, among others. We also have an in-house developed anthropomorphic, chambered human head phantom.