The MR scanners at the DRCMR are used differently since their characteristics vary. They each have a fixed magnetic field strength between 1.5 and 7.0 tesla (T). These fields are incredibly strong, up to around 140,000 times the earth magnetic field. They are used to literally magnetize the scanned persons. Even at such strong fields, the tissue magnetization is very weak, and the fields have no adverse biological effects. Strong fields are generally needed since the measured signal increases with field strength. Higher field is not always an advantage, but some measurements benefit a lot, e.g. mapping of brain function (fMRI) and MR spectroscopy, where a range of molecules are measured separately. Another difference between the scanners is size. Only rodents fit in the preclinical scanner whereas humans are scanned in the others. The scanners also vary with respect to age, location, manufacturer and technical specifications and are therefore used differently. Most are used both clinically and for research. Here is a brief overview:

Phillips Achieva 7.0 T

7T scanner installed after generous donations from the John and Birthe Meyer Foundation and The Danish Agency for Science, Technology and Innovation. This scanner is the most powerful in Denmark and has been used for humans since 2016. It is an experimental device, and therefore patients can only be scanned as part of research projects.

Siemens Prisma 3.0 T

This scanner was installed in 2002 after a generous donation from the Simon Spies Foundation. The scanner was upgraded to a Siemens Prisma scanner in 2016. 

Philips Achieva 3.0 T

This scanner installed in 2013 for research purposes got installed in connection with the 7T project. It is multi-nuclear and used for a wide range of projects.

Siemens Vida 3.0 T

A wide-bore high-end scanner with multi-nuclear capabilities, installed in 2022.

Siemens Sola 1.5 T

Classic multi-channel general purpose scanner, installed in 2022.

Siemens Espree 1.5 T

Another classic multi-channel general purpose scanner installed in 2006. 

Bruker Biospec 70/20 7.0 T

This preclinical scanner was installed in December 2016. It replaces a Variance Inova 4.7T preclinical scanner.