The torque balance device allows a sample to be attached to a non-magenetic basket which is then placed into the homogeneous static magnetic field of an MRI scanner. The sample undergoing the test will attempt to align at a particular orientation relative to the static magnetic field. The sample's rotational force is transferred to the basket, resulting in a force which is measured by a set of strain gauges. The needle bearings attached to the basket isolates an individual rotation access for the measurement. The rotational force (torque) is displayed on digital display. This force is recorded after the entire device is rotated and stopped at increments around a 360 deg rotation about an axis at right angles to the static field. This results in a plot for one particular plane of orientations of the device. The sample is repositioned in the basket with a new orientation and the process repeated for this axis. When this is done for each of the three orthogonal orientations of attachment to the basket, the device is completely characterized and one can specify the maximum torque this object will experience at a given magnetic field strength.

File Number: R1644-110 

Other Information: Principal Investigator: Nikolaus M. Szeverenyi