Integrated whole-body preclinical PET/MRI(3T) system with cryogen-free MRI, translational 3T MR field strength and 8cm transaxial FOV

State-of-the-art PET molecular imaging and translational 3T cryogen-free MRI are fully integrated into the new standard for preclinical imaging. The compact nanoScan PET/MRI(3T) combines best-in-class small animal PET performance with the superior soft tissue contrast of a 3T MRI without the infrastructure and operational costs of a traditional high field strength MRI system.

The unique design of the patented superconducting “dry magnet” technology is inherently compact, low weight, with a negligible magnetic fringe field, and does not require liquid helium.

Key benefits for cryogen-free 3T MRI

• High performance at 3 Tesla: Performance is highlighted by excellent resolution and homogeneity covering routine and advanced imaging applications. The nanoScan PET/MR 3T is an efficient and fast scanner providing whole body MR images within a few minutes.
• Resolution: Under typical scanning parameters the nanoScan 3T MRI achieves
• Homogeneity: Best-in-class “dry magnet” homogeneity of st and 2^nd order auto shimming.
• High performance gradients: Powerful gradients (up to 600mT/m).
• Comprehensive coil selection: Animal specific, dedicated whole body and brain coils provide easy setup and an optimized signal-to-noise profile. A selection of surface coils give flexibility to closely cover anatomical regions. A phased array coil is available for more demanding imaging.
• Sequence library: Over 30 routine and advanced sequences and protocols are included with the flexibility of an optional pulse programming package.
• Advanced MR design at 3 Tesla: The cryogen-free, vacuum sealed superconducting magnet can be placed anywhere in a research facility, no dedicated or shielded rooms, and no interference with research equipment operating nearby. The Mediso design principles are based on providing a user-friendly, cost-effective, dependable, and high performing preclinical MR.
• Persistent mode operation: User-defined customizable field strength from 0.1T to 3T.
• Pulse tube cryocoolers: Pulse tube cryocoolers mitigate vibrations for artifact free imaging and ensure a long maintenance free lifetime.
• SMART magnet technology: Easily put the magnet in standby or hibernation mode and consume 1/3 the power compared to active imaging.
• Safety and monitoring:The nanoScan dry magnet technology does not suffer from magnetic field quenches often associated with traditional magnets.
• Mediso's SMART® magnet technology offers unrivalled Protection and Control by
• Active quench protection
• Monitoring environmental parameters
• Emergency self ramp-down
• Prolonging magnet / cold-head lifetime
• Ensuring optimal working conditions by multiple temperature, pressure and flow sensors
• Enabling Magnet operation in idle-mode
• Programming system operation
• Ensuring low consumption when the system is not in use

Key benefits for PET subsystem

• Superior PET detector characteristics: Advanced detector design and best-in-class imaging capabilities.
• Large detector area with the finest detector elements in the industry.
• High-density, tightly-packed elements produce unparalleled imaging performance.
• Superior stopping power with thick LYSO crystal for the highest sensitivity and best minimal detectable activity
• Measure even the finest details: The Tera-Tomo™ GPU-based 3D PET reconstruction engine delivers PET resolution that approaches the physical limits ( 0.7mm) with outstanding absolute quantification (>97%), signal recovery, and signal-to-noise ratio:
• Monte Carlo system matrix modeling and depth of interaction correction.
• Seamless incorporation of attenuation¹, scatter, positron range, random and dead time corrections.
• PET reconstruction at teraflop speeds achieved through multi-GPUs (Graphical Processing Units)
• Perform acquisition and reconstruction in parallel with dual Tera-Tomo™ reconstruction engines and powerful operator workstations including multi-modality scan planning, viewing, automated coregistration, list mode data archive, DICOM server, and post-processing/analysis solutions

Why Integrated?

Would you buy stand-alone PET and CT systems? Why would an integrated PET/MRI be different? Want to achieve reproducible, sub-millimeter coregistered fusion of your modalities?

Due to the high level of integration of the nanoScan PET/MRI, there is no loss of information caused by reorientation and co-registration of images acquired on standalone systems.

This design allows accurate attenuation and scatter correction based on MRI datasets which is not possible with standalone or separated systems due to:

(1) Inevitable misalignment of the object caused by manual positioning.

(2) Lack of integration of PET reconstruction and MRI data acquisition.

Automatic co-registration is ensured by a single, integrated acquisition software (Interview™ Fusion) used by the nanoScan PET/MRI imager. Precise positioning and automatic gantry movements enable multiple bed position MRI acquisition covering the entire body length of a mouse or rat.

The temporal correlation is quasi-simultaneous: users do not need to spend time moving the animal from one imager to the other or from one room to another. Transitioning from MRI to PET acquisitions is quickly achieved on the same gantry with no user intervention required.

Considering these advantages of the integrated nanoScan PET/MRI system, it is not surprising that throughput is high: acquiring a PET/MRI image will take about the same amount of time as a PET/CT image taken with a dedicated PET/CT imager.

Advantages of the Compact and Integrated System

• Precision coregistration-no loss of information due to reorientation
• Attenuation & scatter correction based on MRI data
• Common gantry and single image coordinate system for both modalities
• Common integrated acquisition software
• Integrated and optimized PET/MRI acquisition protocols
• Select PET acquisition and reconstruction range based on MRI images
• Whole-body MRI imaging with up to 240 mm extended axial field of view
• Precise co-registration of MRI volume as anatomical reference for PET studies
• ECG and respiratory gated imaging for both PET and MRI modalities