Profile-MOUSE®

The profile NMR-MOUSE is a portable open NMR sensor equipped with a novel permanent magnet geometry that generates a highly flat sensitive volume parallel to the scanner surface. To excite and detect the NMR signal of this volume a surface rf coil is placed on top of the magnet at a position that defines the maximum penetration into the sample. By repositioning the sensitive slice across the object this unilateral NMR scanner produces one-dimensional profiles of the sample structure with a spatial resolution better than five micrometers. Moreover, flat gradient coils can be mounted between the magnet and the rf coil to encode velocity and diffusion within the sensitive slice. The open geometry of the final setup allows one to characterize arbitrarily sized objects in a non-destructive way. The sensor itself is a robust and mobile unit that weight less than 5 kg and can be carried to the place of the object for in situ sample analysis. Depending on the requirements of specific applications, like, for example, maximum penetration depth, the device is customized to offer you the highest performance for your application.

 

The repositioning of the sensitive slice through the object, required by this profiling technique, is achieved by means of the high precision fully automated HP lift system shown in the photo. In this case the object under study is positioned on top of the black acrylic plate and the profile-NMR-MOUSE is placed on a movable plate whose position is controlled by a programmable step motor. This mechanism allows one to move the sensor up and down with a precision of 10 um. The sensor can be equipped with a set of gradient coils to measure anysitropic diffusion.

 

The profile NMR-MOUSE® has been customized to provide the best performance at difference working depths paying particular attention to maximizing resolution and portability. A series of sensors (PM 2/5/10) are available to work at 2, 5, and 10 mm depths offering maximum portability. For application where larger depths needs to be reached the intermidiate model  PM25s  provide a maximum working depth of 25 mm. Thanks to the scaled dimensions used for this magnet a stronger field and a lower field gradient are achieved to provide high sensitivity. Finaly the model PM 30sh is a larger magnet which include the latest technology in magnetic field shimming to offer a large working depth of 30 mm relatively strong magnetic field and extremly low field gradient. This magnet is extremly convenient in applications where flow imaging experiments are required.