MR-compatible optical microscope for in-situ dual-mode MR-optical microscopy

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Imaging
• Microscopy
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Background:

• Simultaneous multimodal imaging offers enhanced biological insights.
• Integrating optical microscopy with magnetic resonance microscopy presents technical challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and characterize a dual-mode imaging platform combining optical microscopy and magnetic resonance microscopy.
• To ensure MR-compatibility and minimize image noise for high-quality concurrent imaging.

Main Methods:

• Designed a microscope for a 9.4T small animal scanner with adaptable RF coils.
• Implemented electromagnetic shielding using a waveguide for camera protection.
• Utilized an adaptive lens, modular objectives, and RGBW illumination for optical imaging.
• Achieved plano-apochromatic optical aberration correction with resolutions from 0.6μm to 2.3μm.

Main Results:

• Minimized magnetic field inhomogeneity to 19 ppb RMS near the sample.
• Kept noise increase in MR and optical images below practical relevance.
• Demonstrated concurrent imaging capabilities with high resolution and minimal distortion.

Conclusions:

• The developed dual-mode microscope is a viable platform for advanced small animal research.
• The design strategies overcome key challenges in integrating optical and MR microscopy.
• This technology enables novel investigations requiring simultaneous high-resolution optical and MR data.