MAJOR EQUIPMENT
Updated 2 April 2026
Major Equipment for the Center for Systems Imaging Core (CSIC) Users
CENTER FOR SYSTEMS IMAGING CORE (CSIC)
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
The Center for Systems Imaging Core operates three full-time research dedicated Siemens Magnetom Prisma 3T MRI scanners, and a Siemens 7 Tesla MRI scanner. With multiple human research 3T MRI scanners, MRI studies can be effectively distributed across the Emory community. Studies that require close proximity to Emory University Hospital (EUH) or studies performed on in-patients can be performed on the scanner located on the ground floor of the hospital (CSI-EUH). Outpatient studies where convenience of parking and more flexible scheduling is required can be performed at scanners located at the CSIC main imaging facility in Health Sciences Research Building II (HSRBII) or at the Brain Health Institute located at Emory Executive Park 12 facility.
3T Prisma MRI Scanners (EUH, HSRBII, and BHC)
MRI Scanners. Magnetom Prisma whole-body MR systems are equipped with a state-of-the art gradient system with a maximum (per axis) strength of 80 mT/m and slew rate of 200 T/m/sec, 64 independent RF receiver channels capable of 204 receiver connections, and a 2-channel RF transmitter. Multiple coils are available, including a 64-channel head/neck coil with 52 channels for imaging of the head region and the remainder for neck imaging, a 32-channel head-only coil, a 20-channel head/neck coil, spine array coil, flexible chest coil, large and small flexible coil for extremity imaging, Tx/Rx CP Head Coil for large no-cap head space, and a 31P dual-tune flexible coil shared across sites for phosphorus spectroscopy. The scanners are equipped with DirectRF and DirectConnect technology, providing a significant increase in signal-to-noise ratio. The Prisma scanner platform allows efficient acquisition of high-resolution fMRI and DTI images with protocols compatible to those released by the Human Connectome Project. Furthermore, the Prisma scanners located at EUH and BHC are equipped with multinuclei spectroscopy and additional shimming power for improved magnetic resonance spectroscopy. A number of advanced research sequences are also available, including vessel wall imaging, quantitative Arterial Spin Labeling, Diffusion Spectrum Imaging (for High Angular Resolution Diffusion Imaging) and Simultaneous Multi-Slice EPI (allowing for sub-second high-resolution whole-brain fMRI data acquisition), 4D phase contrast MR for measuring time-resolved flow velocity, displacement encoding with stimulate echoes (DENSE), and multi-echo and ultra-short echo time sequences. With our master research agreement with the vendor, advanced work-in-progress MR sequences from the vendor, collaborators from other institutions, or developed sequences locally can be deployed.
Stimulus and response system for functional MRI. All scanners are equipped with peripheral systems for fMRI. Stimulus/response controls for behavioral tasks concurrent with fMRI are supported by an array of hardware specifically designed to allow investigator flexibility and precision. Visual presentation at MRI sites is provided by BOLDScreen MRI compatible LED displays. Audio presentation is provided by an Avotec Silent Scan 3100 that has been calibrated to maintain sound pressure levels that are dependent directly on input (flat frequency response +/- 4dB, 200-4500Hz range). A fiber-optic ergonomic bilateral button response system from Psychology Software Tools exists, as well as a control unit to support custom response shapes (joysticks, steering wheels, wands) from Current Designs. Hardware are connected through a single switch that signals TTL trigger pulses and allows connectivity to an investigator’s laptop with non-proprietary connections (USB, 1/8” minijack audio, VGA & DVI). A dedicated stimulus and response monitoring computer running Eprime 2.0 and Presentation stimulus programming software also exists. An OptoAcoustics FOMRI MRI-compatible microphone featuring advanced active noise cancellation technology is available for speech fMRI paradigms. CSI-EUH MR scanner is also equipped with multi-nuclei option. Currently a 31P/1H dual tune flexible coil is equipped and is applicable to phosphor MRS and metabolism studies.
CSI-HSRBII: Other Equipment. A Biopac MP150 (Goleta, CA) MRI-compatible physiological response measurement system is available for collecting peripheral physiological measures. The MP150 system provides high resolution (16 bit), variable sample rates for analog and calculation channels, 16 analog inputs and two analog outputs, digital I/O lines (automatically control other TTL level equipment), and 16 online calculation channels. The MP150 System provides high-speed acquisition (400 kHz aggregate) via an Ethernet connection to a host computer. AcqKnowledge, the Biopac control and analysis software package is used to control the acquisition and can be used for data analysis. Available physiological measures are cardiac pulse, heart rate, heart period, respiratory sinus arrhythmia, respiration and electrodermal activity. The physiological measurements recorded by Biopac can be viewed real-time on a dedicated laptop computer through the Biopac data acquisition software. All responses can be recorded in MatlabTM, text or proprietary Biopac software formats, for retrospective analysis. A Resoundant MR Elastrography (MRE) system is available on the scanner and is integrated into the acquisition trigger system. Both head and liver drivers are available. A small machine/coil shop is also located in HSRBII providing the capatility to fabricate custom MRI coils, animal holders, and special purpose stimulation devices.
CSI-HSRBII: Mock MRI Scanner. A mock MR scanner is set up in the Health Sciences Research Building II facility. This mock scanner is similar in appearance to the Siemens MRI scanners. It provides stimulus presentation and scanner noise emulations and is used to familiarize pediatric subjects with MRI scanner operation and to acclimate them to the MR scanning environment.
CSI-EUH: Other Equipment. Peripheral equipment, including computers and software for paradigm generation, setup for stimulus presentation, devices for recording behavioral data and physiological parameters including heartbeat, respiration, blood pressure, eye movement, ECG, EEG, and EMG are also established for operation concurrent with MR acquisition. Stimulus generation and presentation setup allows us to present acoustic, electric, and vibrational stimuli and oral and venous administration of liquids. Setup for response via button box, keyboard, mouse, speech, eye movement, and grip force has also been established. A power contrast injector system is also available at 3T-EUH to support MRI scans that require use of contrast agent.
CSIC-BHC: Other Equipment. A Biopac MP150 (Goleta, CA) MRI-compatible physiological response measurement system is equipped to drive oxygen and carbon dioxide concentration of exhale air flow. The MP150 System provides high-speed acquisition (400 kHz aggregate) via an Ethernet connection to a host computer and is ready to integrate other BIOPAC peripheral physiological measuring modules. AcqKnowledge, the Biopac control and analysis software package is used to control the acquisition and can be used for data analysis. A three gas bottles gas distribution system is wired to provide inhaling gases with different oxygen and carbon dioxide concentration to the research participant. The date recorded by Biopac can be viewed real-time on a dedicated desktop computer through the Biopac data acquisition software. All responses can be recorded in MatlabTM, text or proprietary Biopac software formats, for retrospective analysis. An MRC eye-tracking system is equipped to monitor and record eye motion data.
7T MRI Scanner (HSRBII)
The Ultrahigh field human MRI scanner is a Siemens Terra 7T with a bore size of 60 cm and a magnet length of 270 cm. It is equipped with Zero Helium boil-off technology as well as passive and active shimming with 3 linear channels (1st order) and 5 nonlinear channels (2nd order) guaranteeing homogeneity of 0.02 ppm over a 20 cm volume. The system is equipped with XR Gradients (80 mT/m @ 200 T/m/s, 400 msec rise time) and 64 channel TIM RF coil technology. The Maximum effective vector gradient amplitude is at 139 mT/m with a maximum slew rate of 346 T/m/s and a duty cycle of 100%. This allows slice thickness (3D) as low as 0.05 mm, and in-plane resolution at 7 µm with maximum matrix size of 1024. The system is equipped with multinuclear imaging and spectroscopy capabilities and has state-of-the art parallel transmit (PTX) capacity for uniform B1 transmit profile. The system has 1Tx32 R x head coil, 31P/1H 1Tx1Rx head coil, 23Na 1Tx32Rx head coil, and a1Tx28Rx Knee Coil for single transmit mode and an 8 channel PTX coil with intergraded 32 channel receive-coil array. The system operates on Syngo MR11 software with secure Dual Mode functionality for secure switching between research operation (parallel transmit) and clinical operation (FDA approved single transmit mode). The system is equipped with the Neuro and Ortho software applications suites. The system has Wireless Vector ECG, Respiration, and pulse sensors for physiologically synchronized imaging. Application packages include DTI, Resolve, SWI, SMS, and 3D Pace, among others.
Shared Research/Clinical Positron Emission Tomography (PET)/MR Scanner (TEC)
The 3 Tesla PET/MR system from General Electric (GE) Healthcare is located within the Emory Clinic (TEC-Bldg C) and is a shared for both research and clinical use. The scanner is a GE SIGNA PET/MR 3.0T 26 with Quantworks features a simultaneous time of flight (TOF) PET imaging with whole body 3.0T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in a 60 cm bore. The PET system is composed of 45 LBS-Lutetium based scintillator rings (20,160 total crystals) and 28 Silicon Photomultiplier Modules. The timing resolution is <400 psec with a coincidence window of 4.57 ns. Axial field of view is 25.0 cm, the trans-axial field of view is 60 cm. Trans-axial resolution is 3.7-4.2mm and axial resolution is 4.8-7.1mm. The PET processing system contains 896 1.15 GHz GPU cores and a six-core Dual Intel Xeon Processor CPU. The system is equipped with a number of viewing and image processing programs, including zero-TE attenuation correction for the head. The MR system is a 3.0 Tesla GE SIGNA 750W with gradients capable of a Peak Amplitude 44 mT/m and a Peak Slew Rate 200 T/m/s. Main field homogeneity is <0.500 ppm over 40 cm FOV. The system comes equipped with a number of coils including spine coil, body array coils and Transmit/Receive head coils. The software suite includes advanced neuro, body, oncology and orthopedic, cardiovascular, and pediatric packages and includes multi-nuclear spectroscopy.
Positron Emission Tomography-Computed Tomography (PET/CT) Scanner
The PET/CT system is a fully integrated Siemens Biograph Vision 600 system with a 78 CM bore and 136 cm tunnel length and is located in Health Sciences Research Building II (HSRBII). The PET system features 3.2-mm lutetium oxyorthosilicate (LSO) crystals that are 100% covered by SiPM s2Optiso Ultra Dynamic Range (UDR) detector technology which enable higher sensitivity and lower dose. The detector technology features 48-mm3 volumetric resolution and 214-ps "true" time-of-flight performance. The small detector block size delivers >1789 kilo counts per second effective peak NECR. The High-flow direct-cooling of the detector electronics assembly allows the detector temperature to remain stable at room temperature for outstanding performance and serviceability, as well as improved patient comfort. Software includes: FlowMotion™ AI, Multiparametric PET AI, OncoFreeze™ AI, QualityGuard™, and FAST CARE CT technologies.
Cyclotron, Radiopharmacy/Radiochemistry Labs
The Cyclotron Suite houses a General Electric PETrace 880 18MeV self-shield cyclotron. This cyclotron allows the production of Fluorine-18, Carbon-11 (carbon dioxide), and Gallium-68. The cyclotron includes the PROCAB processing system for Carbon-11 conversion. The high energy cyclotron allows for single bombardment production of energies up to 100uA or dual bombardment up to 130uA. The transfer of radioisotopes from the cyclotron to the Radiopharmacy and Radiochemistry Labs is via a Von Gahlen Active Distribution System providing the delivery of isotopes to a variety of locations within the labs.
The CSIC Radiopharmacy is a Georgia State-Licensed Nuclear Pharmacy. The Radiopharmacy facility is operated under the guidelines outlined in United States Pharmacopeia (sections 823 and 825) and includes space for research radiopharmaceutical production, and ISO7 certified cleanroom and dispensing spaces. The Production space utilizes Von Gahlen cGMP Stacked Synthesis Hot Cells with adjacent cabinets for preparatory-HPLC equipment as necessary for radiopharmaceutical production. The Synthesis Hotcells contain the following GE Radiochemistry production systems: TRACERlab FX2 N, TRACERlab FX2 C, Fastlab 2 and Fastlab 2 with the Developer System and HPLC+ Purification and Reformulation Systems. Additionally, the Synthesis Hot Cells house a Trasis All-In-One AIO36 Radiochemistry production system. The production area also houses the following systems for quality assurance testing: Agilent HPLC with RAM detection, Agilent Gas Chromatography with RAM detection, LabLogic Scan-RAM TLC, LabLogic Bubble Point Tester, Charles River Nexgen PTS BET testing unit, and Sterility Incubation cabinets. A SwissLog Pneumatic System provides the shielded transport of radiopharmaceutical doses to the PET/CT scanner and small animal microPET/CT scanner locations in HSRB2.
9.4T Bruker Animal MRI System
A 9.4T/20-cm Bruker animal MR imaging/spectroscopy system is housed in the Whitehead Biomedical Research Building. The magnet is actively shielded to reduce the extent of the fringe field. The imaging console is interfaced with a Bruker AVANCE spectrometer driven by a LINUX workstation and Bruker ParaVision 360.3.5 imaging software. The system is equipped with actively decoupled RF coils (volume coil as a transmitter and the surface coil as a receiver) with 2-RF channels: one with 1000 Watt RF amplifier for 1H NMR studies and the other with 800 Watt broadband amplifier (frequency range from 6 to 365 MHz) for X-nucleus NMR studies. A quadrature volume coil optimized for imaging rodent brains and a variety of surface coils are also available. The scanner is equipped with a state-of-the-art BFG 200/115-S-14 12-cm diameter gradient insert from RRI (maximum gradient strength 675 mT/m, 120 usec risetime), and actively shielded BG-6 set (6cm, maximum gradient strength of 1000 mT/m, 55 usec risetime), all driven by Copley 200A/300V Gradient Amplifiers. Peripheral equipment including a) physiological signals monitoring system (SA Instruments), used for synchronizing MR acquisitions with ECG or respiration triggering signals; b) animal anesthesia and physiology maintenance system; c) acoustic, optic, and electrical stimulation accessories for functional study. This system is suitable for studying mice, rats, and other small animals.
11.7T Bruker Animal MRI System
The ultra-high field preclinical scanner is a BioSpec 117/16 USR multipurpose scanner for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) and is located in Heatlth Sciences Research Building II (HSRBII). The main field is 11.7 Tesla, with a 16 cm bore USR magnet and a High-Power Gradient Amplifier. The system operates on the ParaVision 360 MR Comprehensive Imaging Workplace. The system is equipped with two 1H parallel transmit and receive RF channels and a Broadband transmit and receive channel supporting the following applications: 1H, 19F, and X-nuclei with MR frequencies from 15 MHz up to 31P; 1H arterial spin labeling (ASL); X-nuclei MRI/MRS with 1H decoupling (WALTZ, MLEV). The system is also equipped with a circularly polarized, transmit/receive MRI RF Coil with a 72 mm ID, as well as an Anatomically shaped four element array coil for mouse brain investigations. The MR Imaging Plus Package extends the ParaVision 360 imaging portfolio with the following MRI imaging methods for preclinical research: Diffusion imaging methods: DTI-SE, DTI-EPI, T1-EPI, T2-EPI, T2*-EPI, DTI-Spiral; fMRI, DCE and Perfusion methods: EPI, CASL-EPI, FAIR-EPI, FAIR-RARE Spiral; IntraGate wireless cardiac imaging methods: IgFLASH, IgUTE; Advanced Angiography: Flowmap; Short TE: UTE, UTE3D, ZTE, RAREst. The MR Spectroscopy Package extends the ParaVision 360 imaging portfolio with state-of-the art MR Spectroscopy and Spectroscopic Imaging methods for preclinical research including: Localized Spectroscopy: PRESS, STEAM, ISIS; Chemical Shift Imaging: CSI, EPSI.
MicroPET/CT Animal Scanner
The pre-clinical Molecubes B-X Cube micro PET-CT system is located in HSRBII. The system is a combination of PET and CT and is a high-performance innovative benchtop scanner. The state-of-the-art 5-ring 45 detector system ensures best-in-class sensitivity while maintaining uniform sub-millimeter image resolution across the entire field-of-view. The introduction of monolithic scintillators coupled with Peltier controlled SiPM detectors along with their iterative image reconstruction techniques results in superior image quality. The Molecubes microCT is a high-throughput benchtop scanner. It allows for fast whole-body imaging at an extremely low dose and excellent soft tissue contrast. The shelf-shielded system is a truly mobile in-vivo scanner due to its compact design and light weight. Advanced workflows such as gated and dynamic contrast enhanced imaging can be achieved in a functional and integrated setup. The cube system’s iterative reconstruction techniques and expert user mode make for a multi-purpose solution for most pre-clinical imaging applications. This PET/CT combination optimally fits whole body rodent molecular imaging. Intuitive acquisition, reconstruction and viewing software allow for highly efficient multi-modality scanning with unsurpassed image quality. A high-performance workstation supports the imaging workflow - control, display and analysis of large image volumes. The Molecubes software suite, CUBEFLOW, allows for intuitive and efficient workflow to maximize researchers’ accuracy and speed. The software platform integrates quality control, physiological monitoring, image acquisition and advanced reconstruction techniques. This system is suitable for studying mice and rats.
Computing Facilities
The CSIC is equipped with a state-of-the art computing facility consisting of a twenty-four nodes linux mini cluster, disk RAIDs with 1569 TiB total storage capacity, a full rack capable of supporting up to 16U calculation nodes, including 1016 CPU threads and six NVidia P100/A40 powered GPU nodes, and three automated off-site back-up server with 1145TiB backup storage configure to bi-weekly rotation and one-year time machine backup scheme. For data processing and analysis, Matlab, IDL, LCmodel, SPSS, SPM, fsl, AFNI, freesurfer, ANTs, MrTrix, Slicer, tensorflow, and a variety of python-based pipelines are installed and available on our cluster. VMware and Oracle VirtualBox are also available for special virtualization need. The computer cluster is also a dicom receiving server open to all collaborating PIs for data storage and analysis purpose.