1 minute read
7T MRI Memories
I recall the whiteboard in the 7T console room. I started using this to note down various issues, with the heading “Things that need to be fixed” or words to that effect. It seemed, though, that others on the team considered this to be too negative. So we changed it to “Opportunities for optimization.” Thus it seems we overcame our challenges by—keeping to the 7T team motto [“We keep changing things”]—changing these into opportunities!
— Christopher Wiggins
Advertisement
Simon Sigalovsky
Photo courtesy of Franz Schmitt
The most exciting part for me was when we had reached the stage in the development of the scanner and the coils where we could run our first volunteer scans—and I could be the first volunteer. I remember how strange it felt [entering such a strong magnetic field], as if you were pushed in on a curved path and once you reached the center you started rotating as if you were in a huge washing machine.
— Andreas Potthast
Larry Wald
Photo courtesy of Franz Schmitt
On a Saturday evening one February, Mary Foley called me and said, “Fraaaanz, please come quick, the 7T is underwater.” I hurried over to the Martinos Center and, indeed, water was dripping from the ceiling like crazy. I am an apprenticed electrician and seeing the electrical outlets floating in water scared [the heck out of me]. Anyway, Mary and I resolved it by lifting the outlets to higher levels. A heroic act!
— Franz Schmitt
(Back row, L to R) Christopher Wiggins, Larry Wald, Simon Sigalovsky, Franz Schmitt, Bernd Stoeckel; (kneeling, L to R) Wilfried Schmidt, Andreas Potthast
Photo courtesy of Christopher Wiggins
With so many memories, it is of course hard to pick a favorite. But perhaps one that I recall often was working with my brother Graham Wiggins. For both Graham and myself, the chance to not just work on the cutting-edge 7T project, but work on it together, was a truly wonderful opportunity. Many of the tales related to his time at MGH have been covered in other settings, but one I think has not been mentioned is the use of the phrase “It’s been a long week.” I think the earliest in the week this was spoken was at 10 AM on a Monday.
- Christopher Wiggins
Graham Wiggins
Photo courtesy of Christopher Wiggins
