fMRI Resources

Paradigm Presentation

There are two computers in each of the F.M. Kirby Center control rooms for use by investigators to present fMRI paradigms to subjects in the Philips scanners. One is an PC running Windows XP the other is a Macintosh running MacOS 9. A PC is located in the Simulator control room for investigators to use in fMRI practice sessions. Associated with these computer systems is audio equipment for playing sound from a variety of sources to the fMRI research subject, a display system for showing the computer screens or NTSC video programs to the subject, response devices to acquire and record subject responses and physiologic recording devices to acquire and record ECG, pulse, respiration and in MR2 skin conductance and EEG. There is also an mobile eye tracking system that can be used in either scanner.

These systems are shared resources used by many of our users who depend on them for use in their research protocols. It is therefore essential that they be left in a known state for use by the next investigator. No one wants to spend time determining why their paradigm does not run properly due to some unknown change made in the previous use of the system. You must reset any settings changed in the Control Panels on the computers or on the audio or video systems to the settings and connections found when you arrived. This gives all users a known starting point for beginning their experiments.

This includes display resolution, number of colors, refresh rate, sound volume and balance, audio system volume, projector brightness and contrast settings and all wiring connections. Also, most users require that the energy saver be turned off on the computer system they use for presentation so that the screen is not blanked during a long display period. This must be turned back on to prevent burn-in damage to the LCD displays.

Computers

HP xw4300

• Specifications
• • Intel® Pentium® 4 650 / 3.40 GHz, 800 MHz FSB, 2 MB cache with HT and Extended Memory 64-bit Technology
  • 1 GB DDR2 533 MHz SDRAM
  • NVIDIA Quadro FX540
  • • Memory Size: 128 MB
    • Memory Interface: 128 bit
    • Graphics Memory Bandwidth: 8.8 GB/sec.
    • Graphics Bus: PCI Express
  • 160GB SATA, 3.0 Gb/s, NCQ, 7200 rpm
  • 16x DVD+/- RW, Dual-Layer, LightScribe
  • Integrated 10/100/1000 Ethernet
  • Integrated Intel/Realtek HD audio
• Stimulus Presentation Software
• • E-Prime 1.1
    
  • • Users Guide
    • Reference Manual
  • E-Prime Professional 2.0
  • Presentation 12
  • • Documentation
      
  • Matlab 7 with Psychtoolbox-3 and Cogent 2000 toolkits
• GW Instruments instruNet Analog/Digital Input/Output System
• • Specifications
  • Manual
• HP xw4300 Manuals
• • Data sheet
  • Setup & Troubleshooting Guide
  • Service and Technical Reference Guide

Macintosh G4

• Specifications
• Connections
• Stimulus Presentation Software
• • Superlab 1.7
• GW Instruments instruNet Analog/Digital Input/Output System

Visual Stimulus

• MR1 Projector Specifications

• 

  The MR1 projector is an Epson PowerLite 7350. (User Manual) Both PC and Macintosh are connected to the Computer1 input of the projector through the fMRI console. A VGA connection is available for investigators to connect their computer to the projector. A DVD player/recorder is connected to the projector using the Video input. The remote control input of the projector is connected to an extension IR receiver allowing the projector's remote control to be used in the control room. The receiver is mounted on the wall to the left of the console.

  • Type: XGA (1024 x 768 pixels)
  • Brightness: 1600 ANSI Lumens
  • Panel System: 3 x 1.3" Poly-Silicon TFT LCD
  • Supported Resolutions: 640x480, 800x600, 1024x768, 1152x864, 1280x960, 1280x1024, 1600x1200 (and others)
  • Video Compatibility: NTSC, PAL, SECAM, HDTV480P, HDTV1080I

• MR2 Projector Specifications

• 

  The MR2 projector is an Epson PowerLite 7600p. (User Manual) Both PC and Macintosh are connected to the DVI input of the projector using DVI splitters and a DVI switch. A cable for connecting investigators' computers to the VGA port of the projector is available in the control room. The DVD player/recorder is connected to the S-video input of the projector. The projector's infrared remote receiver is extended into the control room so that the projector can be powered on and off and inputs can be selected from the control room using the remote control. Two neutral density filters (Tiffen 67mm  ND0.3 and ND0.6) are attached to the projector lens to reduce the image brightness.
  

  • Type: XGA (1024x768 pixels)
  • Brightness: 2200 ANSI Lumens
  • Panel System: 3 x 1.3" Poly-Silicon TFT LCD
  • Contrast Ratio: 400:1
  • Supported Resolutions: 640x480, 800x600, 1024x768, 1152x864, 1280x960, 1280x1024, 1600x1200
  • Video Compatibility NTSC, NTSC 4.43, NTSC 5.0, PAL, PAL-M, SECAM

• Projector Lenses

• The stock lenses provided with the projectors were removed and replaced with a custom made 150-230mm focal length zoom lens built by Buhl Optical of Pittsburgh, PA (now Navitar). The projector is located in the equipment room adjacent to the rear of the scanner room. It projects it's image through a 7 inch diameter, 21 inch long RF waveguide placed in the wall between the rooms, aligned to the centerline of the scanner's bore. The lens can be focused and zoomed by reaching into the RF waveguide and twisting the lens rings; focus is at the near end of the lens, the zoom ring is about half way in.

• Rear Projection Screen

• The projected image displays on a rear projection screen (Da-Lite Da-plex substrate with Video Vision optical coating) cut to fit the upper two-thirds of the scanner bore. The screen is attached to the scanner using velcro strips allowing easy removal when necessary.
  The subject views the screen via a front-silvered, 45° inclined mirror attached to the top of the head coil.  Different mirrors are used with each coil due the the mounting scheme provided by the coil manufacturer. For the InVivo 8 channel sense coil, an extra large mirror has been constructed to replace the smaller mirror supplied with the coil. This mirror provides a 23.5° horizontal and 17.7° vertical field of view with the projector zoomed to give maximum image size.
  

• MR Compatible Eye Glasses

MRA fMRI Console

Audio Stimulus Driver

• Level control with diode clipping to prevent overdrive to subject
• Bass, treble and balance controls
• Left and right monitors in control room with independent volume control
• Operator intercom break-in microphone on console
  
• RF filter at penetration panel to prevent noise entering scan room
• Switch selectable DVD, computer, Aux1 and Aux2 inputs

MR compatible Headphones

• Piezo-ceramic stereo drivers
• Air tube connection to headset
• 20 dB noise reduction headset
• Performance Measurements

Electrostatic Headphones

• Stax SRS-005 electrostatic earspeaker system
• SR-003 earspeaker (modified MR version)
• SRM-252II driver
• Modified to be MR compatible
• 20 dB noise reduction ear cups
• Highest audio performance possible inside the MR scanner

Off the Shelf Components

Lab Penetration Panel

Interconnection Diagrams

• MR1 Scanner System (not current)
  
• MR2 Scanner System (not current)
  

MR Compatible Devices

Physiologic Monitoring Systems

Medrad Contrast Injector

• MR1 Scanner only
• Spectris Solaris Injection System
• One piece unit contains motor and all electronics
• Keep 4 feet from magnet opening

Neuroscan EEG/EPR System

• MR2 only
• Amplifiers
• • 70 channel SynAmps²
  • 64 monopolar, 4 bipolar, 2 high level channels
  • 24 bit A-D converter
  • Active noise cancellation
• Maglink - MR compatible interface
• Electrode caps
• • 64 electrode Quik-caps
  • small and medium  sizes
• Neuroscan Scan software for acquisition and analysis
• Curry license (shared with KKI EEG lab)
• Electrode position digitizer - Polhemus FastTrak
  

MRA, Inc. Eye Tracking System

• Minature in-bore camera with dual IR LEDs
• Mounts to scanner table via flexible gooseneck
• Two cameras: eye camera, face camera
  
• Camera creates no artifacts on MR images
  
• Filtering prevents gradient/RF interference with video signal
  
• Fiber-optic connection to control room prevents noise introduction
• Portable computer with eye tracker software for use in either scanner
  
• Arrington Research, Inc. Viewpoint Software for eye tracking
  
• Computer connections diagram
  
• Camera connections diagram
• Operating instructions
  

MRA, Inc. MR Simulator

• Philips covers provide precise environment for prototyping devices for use in scanner
• LCD display at back of simulator for paradigm display
• Audio system with headset for simulating audio paradigms
• Microphone for monitoring subject
• Surround sound audio for simulation of scanning sounds - EPI, SGPR, FLAIR scanning sequences recorded on CD
• Stimulus response system with look and feel of the fiber optic systems used in scanner
• • wire based - DO NOT USE SIMULATOR DEVICES IN SCANNER - they are NOT MR compatible
  • Four individual buttons in 2"x4"x1" boxes with velco faces
  • Four button pad on single box
• Simulator Control Room
• • PC for paradigm development and practice sessions
  • Same audio system as scanner except for standard wired headset
• Feedback device for training children to control motion in scanner from Keith Slifer of Behavioral Psychology Dept.
  

fMRI Image Processing

• Computer Systems

• • godzilla - SunFire V880 server, 8 CPUs, 16 GB RAM, hierarchical file system with 8.2 TB RAID disk cache and 16 TB robot tape system, gigabit network connection, 134 GB user home disk, CD/DVD burner, AIT2 tape for system and home disk backup, variety of fMRI software packages
    
  • junior - SunFire V880z server, 2 CPUs,  4 GB RAM, 300 GB disk, XVR-4000 graphics accelerator
    

• Software

Scanner Hardware

• MR1 - Philips 3T Achieva X-Series
  • Dual mode gradients (QuasarDual): 80 mT/m @ 100 mT/m/ms, 40mT/m @ 200 mT/m/ms
  • Proton RF subsystem, 1 transmitter, 32 channel receiver
  • Multinuclear RF subsystem supports 13C, 31P
  • first order plus 5 second order shims
  • MR Workspace workstation
• MR2 - Philips 3T Achieva
  • Dual mode gradients (Quasar Dual): 80 mT/m @ 100 mT/m/ms, 40mT/m @ 200 mT/m/ms
  • Proton RF subsystem, 1 transmitter, 32 channel receiver
  • first order plus 5 second order shims
• MR3 - Philips 7T Acheiva
  • Gradients: current usable 30 mT/m @ 200 mT/m/ms, designed for 40 mT/m @ 100 mT/m/ms
  • Proton RF subsystem, 1 transmitter (4kW), 32 channel receiver
  • Multinuclear RF subsystem supports 13C, 31P, 4kW
  • first order, 5 second order shims, 7 third order shims
• Gaven Industries RF Shield Room
  • monolithic fully soldered 10 oz. copper sheet, floor ceiling and walls
  • Air sealed RF door
  • No window - 2 RF shielded video viewing cameras (wide and close-up views) connected by fiber-optics to 42" plasma TV monitor in control room
  • MR2 Final Shield Test

• 3T Coils
  • 8 Channel Sense Head Coil
  • T/R Head Coil
  • 33 Element Sense Head / Spine Coil - 18 element neurovascular coil plus 15 element spine coil
  • 8 Channel Sense Knee Coil
  • 4 Element Sense Shoulder Coil
  • Dual Tuned 1H/13C Coil
  • 13C Coil
• 7T Coils
  • T/R Head Coil
  • Volume T/R Head Coil with 16 or 32 channel receive coil (Nova Medical)
  • 13C Leg Coil

MR Phantoms

• Stability Test Sphere

• • Contents: Dow Corning 200 Fluid, 1000 cSt viscosity
  • Dielectric Strength: 400 V/mil = 15.7 MV/m
    
  • Product Data Sheet
  • Material Safety Data Sheet