Application
Low cost, open source hardware platform for use in NMR relaxometry experiments. The platform is capable of a wide variety of relaxometry experiments comprising many magnet, coil, and sample combinations.
Contributors
Michael Twieg1, Matthew J Riffe2, Natalia Gudino3, Mark A Griswold1,4
Contact
Mdt24@case.edu
We present a low cost, open source hardware platform for use in NMR relaxometry experiments. The platform is capable of a wide variety of relaxometry experiments comprising many magnet, coil, and sample combinations. The majority of the RF chain is broadband, allowing operation over a large frequency range with only minor adjustments to the hardware. Experiments can be performed in a host-controlled mode in conjunction with a PC, or in a standalone mode for mobile applications. The high degree of flexibility and low cost of the platform makes NMR relaxometry accessible to applications where cost, size, or flexibility were previously prohibitive. The system is based on off-the-shelf components, along with some custom-fabricated parts, and can be replicated by engineers with suitable skills and resources.
| Mode of operation: | Standalone or PC host |
| Frequency range: 5-80MHz: | 5-80MHz |
| Noise figure (min / typical / max): | 2.5dB / 3.0dB / 4.2dB |
| IP1dB: | -93dB / -47dB |
| Max Echo Bandwidth: | 500kHz |
| Dead time: | 20μs |
| Average data throughput: | 250ksps |
| Supply Voltage (min / max): | 12VDC / 18VDC |
| Idle power consumption (min / max): | 2.5W / 3W |
| Dimensions: | 239mm (L) x 157mm (W) x 46mm (H) |
| Platform weight: | 3.0lbs |
Publications
Affiliations
1Dept. Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
2Dept. of Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
3Advanced MRI Section, Laboratory of Functional and Molecular Imaging, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Strokes, NIH, Bethesda, MD, United States
4Dept. of Radiology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, USA