Specifications_Document.pdf

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Institute of Standards and Technology

Acquisition Management Division 141

325 Broadway

Boulder, CO 80305-3328

Specifications Document

Low Field Magnetic Resonance Imaging Console

PURPOSE: The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in collaboration with the

Advanced Research Projects Agency – Energy (ARPA-E) Rhizosphere Observations Optimizing

Terrestrial Sequestration (ROOTS) program, requires one (1) control console that can produce signals from 10kHz to 300 MHz with 1 radiofrequency (RF) transmit and receive channel, 3 gradient channels with amplifiers, and control signals (TTL). These capabilities must cover the range of experiments necessary for low-field magnetic resonance imaging (45 kHz – 2 MHz).

BACKGROUND: Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) makes use of RF excitation of nuclear spins and

Gradient shapes to produce images. These excitations need a high degree of uniformity and control. The control hardware must be able to produce gradient shapes in 3 directions (X, Y, Z). The control hardware for an MRI must handle precise timings of these events without error. For the low magnetic field operation in this project the low radiofrequency (40kHz - 2MHz regime) is used to excite water protons in systems under observation. This item will also support part of a ARPA-E ROOTS program with Texas

A&M, ABQMR, and the Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging at Massachusetts General

Hospital and Harvard Health Sciences and Technology.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS: The contractor must meet the following technical specification:

• One (1) RF Channels. Channel 1: 10 kHz – 300 MHz. Channel much have ≤10 ns control, > 60-million-point wave form memory. Channel 1 is to have RF amplifier from 0.1 to 30 MHz with

1kW linear power.

• One (1) Digital receiver with at least 14-bit 50 MHz Analog-to-Digital Converters with > 80 dB of gain. 1 GByte of memory on Signal Averager.

• Three (3) Gradient control signal and amplifiers. Each Digital signal processor much have 64 million points of memory. Included should be a gradient rotation board for oblique imaging and shimming of X, Y, and Z through gradient coils. Gradient control outputs should be output on

Twinax connectors with any necessary filtering to remove low frequency noise. Each gradient channel should have a 50 Amp, +/- 150V amplifier with blanking cables provided.

• System should be expandable to a minimum of 2 RF transmit channels and 8 receive channels.

• Integrated system with power distribution, RF interface panel, swept frequency coil tuning, and double shielded RF cables.

• Software licensing for instrument control and data processing.

• Preamplifiers from 0.1 to 100 MHz with > 110 dB of gain.

• Transcoupler from 10 to 100 MHz.

• ¼ wavelength plug-ins for filtering below 10 MHz.

Other Unique Requirements and Considerations: The contractor shall provide at least two (2)

Proven uses in low field MRI application (proton frequency 40kHz to 2MHz). Vendor must provide references of systems in use which NIST will contact.

Warranty Information: The contractor shall provide a one (1) year warranty from the date of acceptance.

DELIVERABLE SCHEDULE: The contractor shall delivery no later than four (4) months after receipt of order.

Government-Furnished Property: None