FAQ's

How can I book a session?
There is an online timetable of bookings at http://my.calendars.net/mricalender. Once availability has been checked, sessions can be booked by calling ex 79023. For all new users or new projects, a preliminary meeting is essential to discuss experimental procedures and ensure all needs are met prior to your session.

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What can the MRI do?
The ability of MRI to detect unhealthy tissue and show fine detail makes it a very useful tool to study:

• The flow of blood in the heart and blood vessels (inc. stenosis and aneurysms)
  
• Tissue in and around joints such as cartilage, tendons, ligaments, muscle and bone marrow).
  
• Morphology and development of tumours and cancers
  
• Functional disorders of major organs such as liver, kidney, lungs, spleen and pancreas.
  
• Disorders of the brain, spine and nervous system
  
• Functional brain imaging
  
• Spectroscopic analysis of biochemical compounds and metabolites.
  
• Tracking of labelled cells within a graft or tracking along active neuronal pathways.

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How long will imaging take?
Depending on the information required, body part, level of detail, and the technique used, imaging times can vary from just a few minutes up to 90 minutes. Average image time will 5-30 minutes pre scan. Preparation time of subjects will be 10-15 minutes.

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Who can use it?
The MRI facility is available to all Cardiff university research staff. Users external to Cardiff university are welcome also via prior appointment.

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Is it safe to use?
Unlike CT and traditional X-rays scans that use ionising radiation, MRI scans do not. Hence, essentially it is safe to use. There are no documented general health problems or side effects associated with exposure to a strong magnetic field of this type. A stringent screening process is carried out for all users, to ensure there are no biomechanical devices or metallic objects within or about a body that may be affected by the magnet.

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How can I obtain my images?
Initial images can be viewed on screen and may be printed out. We also have a suite of offline image analysis software. Users will be given a log in to access the system remotely and will then be able to analyse their data using the following software;

Analyze: For most forms of image manipulation and analysis including, volume measurements of regions of interest, image sectioning, 3D rendering and image algebra.

Paravision: For rapid image viewing and limited image analysis, this is the same software is was used to acquire the scans.

LCmodel: For spectral asignment and analysis.

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