Method and apparatus for performing neuroimaging
AssigneeInsight Neuroimaging Systems, LLC
InventorsCraig F. Ferris, Jean A. King, Arthur C. Allard
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention relates to a restraining assembly used in neuroimaging of animals in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) systems. The body of the animal under study is secured within a tube with a head holder to reduce motion artifacts, particularly when the animal is awake. The tube is placed in the bore of the MRI system to conduct imaging procedures with a radio frequency coil adjacent to the animals' head.
Claims18
A stereotaxic restraining assembly to immobilize a head and body of an awake animal for insertion into the tunnel bore of a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) device, comprising:
- a non-magnetic assembly adapted to be slidably mounted in said bore of said MRI device comprising
- a chassis;
- a first mounting plate at one end of said chassis, and having a hole extending therethrough;
- a second mounting plate at a second end of said chassis opposite said first mounting plate, and having a hole extending therethrough;
- an elongated body tube seated in said access hole through said second mounting plate and extending along said chassis, said tube being connected to said body tube bracket which connected to the second mounting plate, the body tube enclosing the awake animals arms and legs;
- a head holder that restrains the head of an animal, the head holder having a rf coil and an aperture extending therethrough and a plurality of adjustable immobilizing components to secure an animal's head.
A method of conducting neuroimaging on an awake animal, comprising:
- restraining an un-anesthetized animal having arms and legs that are positioned in an assembly slidably mounted in a bore of an MRI device including a chassis;
- a front mounting plate located at one end of the chassis and having a hole extending therethrough;
- rear mounting plate located at one end of the chassis opposite the front mounting plate, and having a hole therethrough;
- an elongated body tube seated in the hole through the rear mounting plate and extending along the chassis, the tube having an end positioned at the rear mounting plate, the tube enclosing the arms and legs of the un-anesthetized animal;
- a head holder to restrain the head of an animal the head holder having a rf coil and having an aperture extending therethrough;
- and
- conducting a functional MRI (fMRI) imaging procedure on the brain the unanesthetized animal.
Apparatus for restraining a conscious animal during a magnetic resonance imaging procedure comprising;
- a head holder with which an animal's head is restrained;
- a chassis slidably mounted within an MRI device on which the head holder is mounted;
- the chassis having a first end plate and a second end plate mounted thereon such that the animal's body is positioned between the first end plate and the second end plate;
- and
- a body tube in which the animal's body legs and arms are enclosed, the body tube being attached to the second end plate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.