MR Solutions’ preclinical cryogen-free MRI family grows with new 4.7T system

A new addition to the cryogen-free, preclinical MRI imaging family, the 4.7T model, is now available to order. It joins the 3T and 7T systems for superior soft tissue contrast and molecular imaging research. This has been brought to the market by MR Solutions, the world’s largest independent developer and manufacturer of commercially available MRI technology. MR Solutions, which pioneered the cryogen free technology in 2013, is the only company to have delivered this technology to customers across the world.

Physicist and CEO of MR Solutions, Dr David Taylor said: “Although we already had the 3T and 7T preclinical MRI systems commercially available, the addition of the new 4.7T is based upon what our customers are telling us that they want. With this new system customers now have greater flexibility when choosing preclinical MRI multi-modality systems.”

Their expanding range of scanners now includes 3T in bore sizes of 17 cm and 31 cm, the 7T in bore sizes of 17 cm and 24 cm, while the new 4.7T is available with a bore size of 17 cm. This cryogen-free range of MRI scanners offers significant benefits to the preclinical research market. As well as providing high imaging performance they have a stray field of only a few centimetres so can be placed adjoining other scanners and in Class 3 and 4 laboratories.

These systems have completely dry magnets with no requirement for liquid helium, have low running costs and no requirement for building modification works. 

All five cryogen-free MRI systems are designed to facilitate multi-modality imaging and dispense with the need for separate systems. MR Solutions can provide PET-MRI or SPECT-MRI imaging either for independent acquisition, sequential acquisition, or simultaneous acquisition. Optical and CT imaging capabilities are also possible. Multi-modality imaging will become the norm for the study of anatomy, bio-distribution, efficacy, safety and kinetics within the same anatomical context.

The magnetic field strength for each system can be adjusted from either 0.1 to 3T, or 0.1 to 4.7T, or 0.1 to 7T according to the selected model and the researcher’s requirements.

MR Solutions was able to dispense with the usual liquid helium cooling system by using a revolutionary magnet design. This enables the use of a standard low temperature fridge to cool the magnet to the required 4 degrees Kelvin (minus 269 degrees C).

MR Solutions, of Guildford, Surrey, in the UK, has over 30 years’ experience and in excess of 1000 installations across the world. Its scanners are renowned for their excellence in terms of superior soft tissue contrast and molecular imaging ability. Customers who hold equipment from other suppliers are invited to approach MR Solutions for upgrades, maintenance, or servicing. Operating out of offices in the UK, USA and with distributors in all the major markets, maintenance and service coverage is offered across the globe.