High resolution MR microimaging of neuronal tissue at 17.6 T

The evolution of magnetic resonance instruments to higher field strengths mandates continued improvement in associated RF technologies. Coil design, gradients and amplifiers must not only be optimized to the sample of interest but must meet the concomitant challenges of increased operating frequencies at higher magnetic fields. Using one of the first 17.6 T wide-bore MR instruments equipped for both imaging and high resolution spectroscopy, a variety of biological samples have been examined. In this report, we describe some of the recent applications of this 750 MHz instrument to microimaging and microspectroscopy, with particular focus on the necessary RF hardware developments required at greatly increased resolutions. Predominately through the optimization of RF coils, maximum image resolutions of less than 10 /spl mu/m have been achieved from research-relevant, biological samples.