Services & Guidelines
ATIF Scanning Guidelines
- Scanner may be reserved during regular business hours (Monday - Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.). Additional evening and weekend requests may be considered for externally funded projects. Special requests should be emailed to [email protected].
- The minimum scan duration for scheduling and billing purposes is 1 hour. Thereafter, additional time is billed in one-hour increments. Billable time includes all setup and cleanup time. Users who run over their scheduled time will be charged for the unscheduled time in 30-minute increments. All reservations must account for anticipated preparation and cleanup time as well as any breaks during the scan.
- All reservations are managed through the online scheduling calendar on a first-come, first-serve basis. Scheduling requests are permitted up to 24-hours in advance. Requests must be approved prior to the requested scan time.
- Any submitted scan request that does not follow appropriate scheduling procedures or fails to submit a request form prior to requested scan time will be cancelled and subject to a cancelled scan fee.
- There will be a 15-minute gap enforced between all scans to allow for post-scan cleaning in the MRI room and scanner suite.
- All participants must complete MRI Safety Training.
- Prior to scheduling, all participants using animals must complete in-person training protocols for animal care with the DAR before initiating a study.
- All animal imaging projects must have prior approval from the Office of the DAR.
- Two different species of animals or two different categories of animals cannot be scanned on the same day.
ATIF Services
Standard Operating Protocols for ATIF
1. All investigators involved in performing MRI/MRS animal studies must familiarize themselves with this SOP.
- Drinking, eating and open-toed shoes ARE NOT allowed under any circumstances inside ATIF rooms. Individuals handling animals are required to wear a lab coat and gloves during any procedures.
- The door to MRI facility should always remain closed.
- Only those who are registered or have completed animal training with names on IACUC approved protocol will be allowed in the ATIF imaging area. All others must remain outside of the area when animals are not in use.
- Submit all room request information at least 24hrs in advance to Dr. Khan Hekmatyar for approval and confirmation.
- Use the ATIF calendar to schedule and reserve the number of hours needed to scan – do not block entire day for one or two-hour scanning. Others may be scheduled for MRI analysis or other phantom measurements.
2. Animal Care Operations and Responsibilities and Guidelines
- All animal imaging projects must have prior approval from the Office of the DAR.
- All users participating in animal imaging research are required to have completed all Office of the DAR training protocols for animal care.
- No other unapproved activities (invasive/surgery) will be performed in the imaging facility without approval from the DAR.
- All animal users must complete in-person training with the DAR regarding handling of the animals before initiating a study.
- It is the responsibility of the investigators to care for animals in a humane way in accordance with IACUC protocols.
- It is the responsibility of the PIs to follow the SOP for the Animal Transportation Regulations established by the DAR and GSU.
- Two different species of animals or two different categories of animals (from two different rooms), CANNOT BE SCANNED ON THE SAME DAY. You must use a single day for any specific scan. DO NOT MIX UP two categories of animals (to prevent contamination issues).
3. Scan Equipment Preparation for Animal Scanning – FOLLOW THESE STEPS CAREFULLY
- Put on a lab coat and gloves after entering ATIF (PSC 901).
- Folders: Use to record anesthesia level; experiment information is to be updated all the time and data to be transferred/saved.
- Ensure that the oxygen generator is turned on before anesthetizing the animal. The oxygen generator is located inside the Equipment Room.
- Turn on water bath. This is located under the control room desk. The power button is in the upper right corner. Press the button in the center of the unit. The temperature is preset to 45 C. Do not adjust temperature unless it is necessary. Refill with distilled water as double distilled water is needed (DO NOT USE tap water). Check to ensure heating pad – water are connected.
- Weigh the Canister on each of your scans and record results in the folder located next to the Anesthesia System.
- Ensure that the isoflurane level in the anesthesia machine is at full/enough capacity, or fill with isoflurane as needed.
- Use appropriate chambers (mouse, rat or large animal chamber) for initial anesthetization. Connect the respective chamber and canister to Anesthesia System.
- Turn on the Digital Anesthesia System and fill up isoflurane as needed and adjust the flow rate to 3 ml/min and 120 for initial preparation. This should be turned on for 3 minutes before placing the animal in the cradle.
- Place the animal in the induction chamber. Anesthetize the animal in the chamber and carry the entire chamber with you for preparation of animal in the Bruker cradle.
- Once the proper level of anesthesia is reached, turn off the Anesthesia System and quickly take animal chamber to the MRI room where the animal cradle is located, place the animal in a prone position and attach all other cables.
- Place sterile ophthalmic treatment to both eyes of the animals liberally. Place respiration pillow underneath the body, lubricate rectal temperature probe with ointment and carefully position the probe into rectal opening of the animal.
- Drop the isoflurane concentration to between 1-2 %, depending upon the depth of anesthesia desired and the animal’s vital signs.
- Monitor the breathing of the animal using SAI software installed on the laptop.
4. After Finishing the Study - FOLLOW THESE STEPS CAREFULLY
- Pull the cradle out slowly from the magnet.
- Remove the tapes from the animal. Remove the Coil slowly, unplug the tooth from tooth bar, remove the rectal probe, place the animal in the anesthesia chamber and return the animal to its cage.
- Unplug the battery cable from charger.
- Spray with isopropyl alcohols and wipe the pillow, and rectal probe with cholorox wipes and alcohols and place securely in the cradle. Wipe all surfaces in the coil, animal cradle, and nose cone that came into contact with the animal with diluted Roccal (provided in each imaging room). Also wipe down any vital signs monitoring probes that came into contact with the animal. Remove all tapes and tape residue from all equipment used in the study.
- Turn off the water bath.
- Turn off the anesthesia flow to magnet (press menu button on the screen and press B two times).
Turn off the oxygen generator in the equipment room.
Other Procedures
Disinfection
All surfaces where animals had contact, even with impermeable coverings, must be disinfected after use with 10% bleach. This is followed by a wipe down with water or 70% alcohol.
Responsibility for the disinfection of used surfaces lies with the user who runs the scan.
Biowastes
Animal excrement, blood or body fluids, hair, and any medical waste generated during the procedure or while in the dual use area must be appropriately packaged and removed from the facility after animal procedure is completed. This also applies to sharps containers, so that no potentially infectious materials from the animal(s) remain after they are removed. If any of these materials are spilled or otherwise contaminate areas inside the MR facility, the surface must be cleaned and decontaminated.
All new users must complete our online MRI safety training prior to participating in research at ATIF. New users should also submit a completed MRI Screening Form. Once you have completed the form, we will contact you to schedule a time to complete your training.
Investigators are responsible for supervision of their research staff, experiments, data collection and completing analyses.
The scanner may only be operated by ATIF personnel, such as a MRI Scientist. Experienced users may run the scanner with prior permission from ATIF personnel. An MRI Scientist is still required to be present in the console room at all times.
| Institutions | User Scanner Fee | Operator Help | Vet Help | Imaging Analysis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emory/ Yerkes | $150/hr or $600/6hr | $50/hr | $50/hr if needed | |
| UGA BIRC | $110/hr | $60/hr | N/A | |
| GSU ATIF | Work hours $100/hr or $500/6hr or $600/8hr | $50/hr | $100/hr |
Seed Grants Support: 2-3 mice, or up to 4 hours of MRI and imaging analysis time, for initial pilot study for grant application using umbrella animal protocols.
ATIF provides seed grants to facilitate the future development of external grant applications. Seed grants are provided in the form of allocated MRI scan time and/or data processing and analyses for subjects.
Policies and Procedures
In order to gain access to ATIF you are required to read, sign and return the Policies and Procedures found below.
Contact Us
Email/Phone
Hours of Operation
Monday - Friday: 9:30 a.m. - 6 p.m.
ATIF Address
Petit Science Center
100 Piedmont Ave. SE
PSC 901
Atlanta, GA 30303
