Ultra-high-field MRI developer Varian, Inc. announced that the University of California, San Diego has agreed to purchase four MRI systems in an order valued at approximately $9.5 million. UCSD made the order in cooperation with the Salk Institute for Biological Studies, Varian said.
UCSD has ordered 3-tesla and 4-tesla whole-body human imaging systems, a 4.7-tesla vertical-bore system for imaging upright primates, and a 7-tesla rodent imaging system. The four systems, set to be installed in October 2001 at the UCSD Center for Functional MRI, will allow UCSD and the Salk Institute to conduct wide-ranging research in neuroscience, cardiovascular mechanics, and advanced bioengineering, according to Palo Alto-based Varian.
The 3- and 4-tesla systems will form the backbone of the university’s functional MRI efforts, which include the studies of visual, cognitive, auditory, language, and developmental neuroscience.
The 4.7-tesla system will be used to map brain activity in primates for basic neuroscience and neuropathology applications, as well as cardiac, cardiovascular, and pulmonary imaging. The UCSD bioengineering department’s 7-tesla system will be used for cardiovascular studies in genetically altered strains of mice, according to Varian.
By AuntMinnie.com staff writersOctober 30, 2000
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