# US 9,753,104 B2 · Specimen conditioning and imaging system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,753,104 B2 - Document ID: US9753104B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/466,163 - Filed: 2014-08-22 - Published: 2016-02-25 - Granted: 2017-09-05 - Earliest claimed: 2014-08-22 - Assignees: TA Instruments-Waters LLC - Applicants: Ta Instruments-Waters L.L.C. - Inventors: Kyle P. Duffin; Jason L. Chinavare; Thomas M. Hays; Troy D. Nickel; Chrysanthi Williams; Anthony Blythe; Jeffrey Frank Dunn; Steven Michael Jones; Janet Lenore Ronsky - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9753104B2 ## CPC - G01R 33/307: {specially adapted for moving the sample relative to the MR system, e.g. spinning mechanisms, flow cells or means for positioning the sample inside a spectrometer} - G01N 1/38: Diluting, dispersing or mixing samples - G01N 33/4833: {of solid biological material, e.g. tissue samples, cell cultures (tissue in vivo A61B5/00; cell suspensions G01N33/48735)} - G01N 2203/0089: Biorheological properties - G01N 2223/307: cuvettes-sample holders - G01R: MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES (indicating correct tuning of resonant circuits H03J3/12) - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) ## Abstract A conditioning system includes a sample chamber capable of receiving a specimen as well as first and second specimen-holding fixtures positioned within the sample chamber and configured to apply mechanical stimulation to a specimen held by the fixtures. The system has at least one port capable of providing a fluid to the sample chamber. The chamber is sized and shaped so that it can be inserted into an imaging device which can record images of a specimen held by the fixtures. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A conditioning system, comprising: a sample chamber capable of receiving a specimen, the sample chamber being sized and shaped so that it can be inserted into an MRI imaging device which can record images of the specimen; first and second specimen-holding fixtures positioned within the sample chamber and configured to rotate or displace along an axis to apply mechanical stimulation to the specimen held by the fixtures while the sample chamber is in the MRI imaging device, the first and second specimen-holding fixtures being formed of a material which does not interfere with the MRI imaging device; and at least one port capable of providing a fluid to the sample chamber. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The conditioning system of claim 1, wherein the sample chamber is in the shape of a cylinder. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The conditioning system of claim 2, wherein an outside diameter of the cylindrical chamber is sized so that the chamber can be received into a bore in the imaging device. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The conditioning system of claim 1, wherein the conditioning system includes one or more of plastic, thermoplastic, polyether ether ketone, polyvinylidene fluoride, polypropylene, silicone and polycarbonate. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The conditioning system of claim 1, wherein the first and second specimen-holding fixtures include polyether ether ketone. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The conditioning system of claim 1, in which the sample chamber includes at least one transparent window that includes one or more of polyvinylidene fluoride and polycarbonate. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The conditioning system of claim 1, wherein fluid flow through the chamber can be maintained while the chamber is in the imaging device. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The conditioning system of claim 1, wherein the conditioning system includes one or more materials (i) having a dielectric strength of at least 7800 volts/mm, and (ii) which allow artifact free images of the specimen to be recorded. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The conditioning system of claim 1, wherein the conditioning system includes one or more materials (i) having a dielectric constant of between 2.2 to 8.4, and (ii) which allow artifact free images of the specimen to be recorded. ### Claim 10 A conditioning system, comprising: a sample chamber capable of receiving a specimen, the sample chamber being sized and shaped so that it can be inserted into an MRI imaging device; first and second specimen-holding fixtures positioned within the sample chamber and configured to rotate or displace along an axis to apply mechanical stimulation to the specimen held by the fixtures while the sample chamber is in the MRI imaging device, the first and second specimen-holding fixtures being formed of a material which does not interfere with the MRI imaging device; and at least one port capable of providing a fluid to one or more of the sample and the sample chamber, the conditioning system being made of materials which allow the specimen contained in the sample chamber to be imaged by the imaging device into which the sample chamber has been inserted. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The conditioning system of claim 10, wherein the sample chamber is in the shape of a cylinder. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The conditioning system of claim 11, wherein an outside diameter of the cylindrical chamber is sized so that the chamber can be received into a bore in the imaging device. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The conditioning system of claim 10, wherein the conditioning system includes one or more of plastic, thermoplastic, polyether ether ketone, polyvinylidene fluoride, polypropylene, silicone and polycarbonate. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The conditioning system of claim 10, wherein the first and second specimen-holding fixtures include polyether ether ketone. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The conditioning system of claim 10, in which the sample chamber includes at least one transparent window that includes one or more of polyvinylidene fluoride and polycarbonate. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The conditioning system of claim 10, wherein fluid flow through the chamber can be maintained while the chamber is in the imaging device. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The conditioning system of claim 10, wherein the conditioning system includes one or more materials (i) having a dielectric strength of at least 7800 volts/mm, and (ii) which allow artifact free images of the specimen to be recorded. ### Claim 18 (depends on 10) The conditioning system of claim 10, wherein the conditioning system includes one or more materials (i) having a dielectric constant of between 2.2 to 8.4, and (ii) which allow artifact free images of the specimen to be recorded. ### Claim 19 A method of conditioning and imaging a specimen, comprising: providing a sample chamber capable of receiving the specimen; placing the specimen into the chamber such that the specimen is located between first and a second specimen-holding fixtures positioned within the sample chamber; adjusting the fixtures so that the fixtures hold the specimen; applying mechanical stimulation to the specimen held by the fixtures by rotating or displacing at least one of the fixtures along an axis; inserting the chamber into an MRI imaging device; mechanically stimulating the specimen using at least one of the fixtures while the chamber is in the MRI imaging device, the first and second specimen-holding fixtures being formed of a material which does not interfere with the MRI imaging device; and recording an image of the specimen. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, wherein the chamber is in the shape of a cylinder. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, wherein an outside diameter of the cylindrical chamber is sized so that the chamber can be received into a bore in the imaging device. ### Claim 22 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, wherein the chamber includes polypropylene. ### Claim 23 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, wherein the first and second specimen-holding fixtures include polyether ether ketone. ### Claim 24 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, in which the sample chamber includes at least one transparent window that includes one or more of polyvinylidene fluoride and polycarbonate. ### Claim 25 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, further including providing at least one port in the chamber that is capable of providing a fluid to the sample chamber. ### Claim 26 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, further including maintaining fluid flow through the chamber while the chamber is in the imaging device.