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Updated: Apr 23, 2026
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Optimized Setup and Protocol for Magnetic Domain Imaging with In Situ Hysteresis Measurement
Published on: November 7, 2017
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A cryogen-free ultralow-field superconducting quantum interference device magnetic resonance imaging system
Byeong Ho Eom1, Konstantin Penanen1, Inseob Hahn1
1Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91109, USA.
The Review of Scientific Instruments
|October 3, 2014
Summary
This study presents a cryocooler-based superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) MRI system, eliminating the need for liquid helium. This advancement makes ultralow-field SQUID MRI more practical and accessible for broader applications.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Medical Imaging Physics
- Superconducting Devices
Background:
- Conventional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) relies on strong magnetic fields and bulky superconducting magnets.
- Ultralow-field (ULF) MRI using Superconducting Quantum Interference Devices (SQUIDs) offers potential advantages but is limited by the need for cryogenic cooling with liquid helium.
- Liquid helium cooling presents significant operational burdens, hindering the widespread adoption of ULF SQUID MRI.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and evaluate a prototype cryocooler-based Superconducting Quantum Interference Device (SQUID) MRI system.
- To eliminate the requirement for liquid cryogens in ULF SQUID MRI operation.
- To assess the feasibility of achieving MRI performance comparable to conventional systems without cryogen use.
Main Methods:
- Construction of a prototype MRI system utilizing a cryocooler for SQUID detector and superconducting gradiometer cooling.
- Characterization of the cryocooler-based system's performance.
- Acquisition of a phantom image using the developed system.
Main Results:
- Successfully operated a SQUID MRI system without liquid cryogens, cooling the SQUID detector to 3.7 K and the gradiometer to 4.3 K.
- Demonstrated the system's capability to acquire a phantom image.
- Identified areas for further improvement to match conventional MRI imaging performance.
Conclusions:
- A cryocooler-based ULF SQUID MRI system is feasible, removing the operational burden of liquid helium.
- The prototype shows promise for more accessible and practical ULF MRI.
- Further development is necessary to optimize imaging performance for parity with conventional MRI systems.
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