Purchase description.pdf

Version 11-30-2016-1 FAR Part 11—Describing Agency Needs

PURCHASE DESCRIPTION

1. Statement of Need and Purpose: That National Institute on Aging (NIA) requires an MRI-compatible flat panel display to present video stimuli to human subjects undergoing functional MRI (fMRI) scanning on a Siemens 7T Terra X MRI scanner. This device must be designed, tested and certified to operate safely at 7 Tesla by the manufacturer of the display and/or Siemens.

2. Background Information and Objective: During an fMRI experiment utilizing visual stimulation, the subject lies supine in the MRI magnet with their head in a head coil, looking backwards via a mirror mounted above their eyes. The visual display must be placed behind the subject, either by projecting the image on a screen inside the magnet bore or by placing a flat panel display directly behind the magnet. The size of the display must be selected so that the subject can see the entire screen. Equipment used to display the visual stimulus must be carefully designed, built and tested to function safely in a MRI environment. This is especially vital when it is used with a ultra-high field MRI system such as NIA's new Siemens 7T Terra X scanner. Specifically, the display, including all supporting and mounting hardware, must not be attracted to the magnet.

This requires careful replacement of any ferromagnetic components, such as transformers, with non-magnetic alternatives. Further, in order to prevent artifacts in the MRI images, the display must incorporate radio-frequency (RF) shielding that greatly attenuates electromagnetic interference caused by the display. Similarly, the display must function correctly in the presence of high static and pulsed magnetic fields and high-power RF transmission. These considerations apply not only to the flat panel itself but also to any cables connecting it to power sources and the video input signal. For this reason, power cables must be specially shielded, power supplies must include low-pass filters and video signals are carried from the MRI control room by fiber optic cables.

Finally, so that the image appears to the subject with correct orientation, the display must project the mirror-image of the fMRI stimulus video output. In summary, an ordinary flat panel display designed for routine office use will not suit NIA’s requirement; a flat panel display with associated non-magnetic mounting hardware, RF-shielded power supply and fiber optic video interface specifically designed, tested and certified for use with 7T MRI systems, is needed.

3. Generic Name of Product: MRI-compatible Flat Panel Video Display

4. Purchase Description: MRI in-room LCD monitor; Display System and Mounting Trolley

5. Salient characteristics

a. The monitor and associated support hardware must be fully non-magnetic and shielded for safe operation when placed directly behind a 7T clinical MRI scanner magnet.

b. The monitor must have demonstrated successful operation when placed directly behind a 7T clinical MRI magnet, generating no detectable MR image artifacts associated with radio-frequency interference (RFI) and degradation in picture quality due to the magnetic and electromagnetic fields produced by the scanner.

c. The monitor should have a nominal (diagonal) screen size of 32” – A larger display would not be entirely visible to a subject undergoing brain scanning in the 7T MRI due to its relatively long magnet bore (about 4’ from the back of the magnet to isocenter).

d. The width of the active screen should be at least 24” – this is required so that the screen image fills the subject’s field of view in the left-right direction.

e. The monitor should be mounted on a non-magnetic trolley to permit quick deployment and removal as needed for fMRI and non-fMRI experiments.

f. This trolley must slide over the patient bed track of the Siemens 7T Terra X MRI scanner (approximately 8” wide and 29” above finished floor).

g. The video signal must pass from the MRI control room to the monitor inside the magnet room entirely by fiber optic cable(s) – this is needed to prevent RFI generated by the scanner from causing noise in the video signal and to prevent the induction of MR image artifacts.

h. Fiber optic and DC power cables must be provided to span a linear distance of 70’ between the monitor in the magnet room and the interface unit in the control room.

i. Any electrical filters required for cables passing through the penetration panel must be supplied by the contractor.

j. The interface unit in the control room must accept video input via an HDMI interface

– this is needed for connection to both paradigm-presenting computers and standalone video streaming devices.

k. Preferably, the interface unit will also accept video input via DisplayPort and USB 3 interfaces, which are common on more recent computers and other video sources.

l. The system must be able to project the mirror image of the input video signal so that the image will appear correctly when viewed by the subject viewing the screen through a mirror.

m. When not in use, it must be possible to power down the monitor to maximize display lifetime and to prevent radio-frequency interference that might compromise extremely sensitive experiments.

n. The contractor must provide on-site installation and training for the monitor and other contractor-supplied equipment.

6. Quantity: 1

7. Delivery Date: 8 weeks ARO

8. Period of Performance: One year warranty; return to manufacturer for service.