A Single-Magnet Fast Field-Cycling Whole-Body MRI System with Detection at 0.2 T

Gareth R. Davies¹, Kerrin J. Pine¹, David J. Lurie¹

Fast Field-Cycling (FFC) MRI systems differ from conventional scanners by their ability to adjust rapidly the magnetic field strength B0 during the pulse sequence. This offers unique image contrast, based on the field-dependence of the spin-lattice relaxation time (T1-dispersion) giving, for example, increased sensitivity to changes in protein. We have built a whole-body FFC-MRI system with a detection field of 0.2 T. This has required novel designs of magnet, power supplies, and control hardware and software. Design issues and solutions and initial results are presented. The scanner will allow clinical applications of FFC to be explored.