I am happy to announce that the two most critical parts of our new Field-Cycling Imaging scanner are being built. The University recently agreed the offers for the purchase of the magnet and its power supplies. These are major components of the system: the magnet generates a variety of magnetic fields, which are controlled by the power supplies to make the images. If the scanner was alive, these would be the muscles, blood and heart of the system, and we are making sure these are tailored for high performance!
Its brain is also being cared for. The entire system is controlled by a single computer, also called a console, which is in charge of synchronising the entire device pretty much like a brain (but without artificial intelligence). For this new Field-Cycling Imaging scanner we are using a console that is new to us and we are starting to learn how to use it as we progress.
We are now in a fun part of the project where we tinker with state-of-the-art equipment to put it to life: connecting one signal to a receptor, generating a pulse, checking the timing, making sure it all operates in unison… the scanner is definitely growing! At present we are preparing the ground for communication: the local network is now functional, all the components can be controlled and programmed via a control computer. We can ask the scanner to make images, even though it just measures noise at present because the rest of the system is missing. More cabling and synchronisation to be done, and the next stage will be to see the scanner make its first steps. We aim to make our first images even before we receive the rest of the pieces of the system, and for this we will have a nice trick.
You can find out more information about our team here, and keep an eye on the blog for any future announcements.
