Meeting Banner
Abstract #3810

Ultra-Low-Field MRI System for Hybrid MEG-MRI

Panu Tapani Vesanen1, Juha Hassel2, Jari S. Penttil3, Jaakko Oskari Nieminen1, Juhani Dabek1, Koos Zevenhoven1, Juho Luomahaara2, Sarianna Alanko1, Nadia Catallo4, Fa-Hsuan Lin5, Juha Simola6, Antti Ahonen6, Risto J. Ilmoniemi1

1Dept. of Biomedical Engineering & Computational Science, Aalto University, Espoo, Finland; 2VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, Espoo, Finland; 3Aivon Oy, Espoo, Finland; 4Dept. of Health Sciences, University of LAquila, Italy; 5Institute of Biomedical Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taiwan; 6Elekta Oy, Helsinki, Finland


In ultra-low-field MRI (ULF MRI), spins precess in microtesla magnetic fields, and the signal is measured by superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDs). Low fields offer several advantages compared to conventional MRI such as narrow line-widths, enhanced T1 contrast, imaging of objects in the presence of metal, and a possibility for simultaneous magnetoencephalography (MEG) measurement. In this work, we describe the current state of our multichannel ULF-MRI system. We present phantom images and discuss technical solutions for coil design in a magnetically shielded environment.