Bruker has unveiled its new 7 Tesla and 9.4 Tesla conduction-cooled Maxwell magnets for high-field sensitivity and resolution in advanced preclinical MR and PET/MR research scanners.

Designed for its BioSpec Maxwell preclinical MR system, the magnets are follow-ups to the BioSpec Maxwell 3 Tesla model and do not require liquid helium or nitrogen refills. Bruker expects them to be valuable for producing sharp images from noninvasive in vivo imaging on small rodents in preclinical research. It says the scans will have high spatial and temporal resolution and help in assessing miniscule areas in high-resolution anatomical imaging of the mouse brains or when performing function MR.

Making their debut at the International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine (ISMRM) 2022 conference, the two MR components utilize high-performance technology in easy-to-use systems to provide researchers with a range of preclinical applications. Siting, installation and maintenance is also simplified, as there is typically no building modification needed.
“The pharmaceutical industry is experiencing pressure to bring new drugs to market faster and more cost-effectively. Contract research organizations are striving for best-in-class solutions in a small footprint. Our new Biospec Maxwell MRI series does not require specialized lab infrastructure and offers compact, lightweight and easy-to-install systems for preclinical MR or PET/MR studies,” said Dr. Wulf Jung, president of Bruker BioSpin’s preclinical imaging division, in a statement.

The BioSpec Maxwell preclinical MR system is a liquid cryogen filling-free MR system that is upgradable with an MR CryoProbe, which increases sensitivity, and with a state-of-the-art PET module. The solution has a small footprint and minimal site requirements, making it capable of fitting into existing laboratories and expanding biomedical research capabilities within them.

It also has an advanced pulse-tube cold head for minimal vibrations that aids sensitive studies such as fMR. By not relying on liquid helium, it allows clinicians to save on long-term costs, and is inherently safe for use.

BioSpecMaxwell magnet technology is equipped with multiple, built-in sensors and with the push of a button, can be auto-cooled and auto-charged. In the event of a power outage or cooling disruption, the magnets remain at field for a minimum of six hours.

All three magnet technologies come with 17 cm bore diameters, high-performance gradient systems and options to add a PET accessory for PET/MR research.

Brucker previously developed the world's first Ascend 1.1 GHz NMR magnet in late 2018. The magnet increases sensitivity and resolution in scanners to help users study larger proteins, functional disorders and macromolecular complexes. It was designed primarily for high-resolution NMR spectroscopy applied to structural biology and the study of functional, intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs).

Additionally, the company created the first 18 Tesla 11 cm bore, preclinical ultrahigh-field MR (UHF MR) system and its clinical research applications in 2019 with the Champalimaud Foundation, a biomedical research foundation in Portugal. It allows for the use of ultrahigh field MR and magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging to study translational cancer.

Bruker’s preclinical imaging systems are for research use only.

Bruker did not respond to HCB News for comment.

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