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Radiologic Imaging Laboratory Records
MSS.2002.08  
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Collection Overview
 
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Description
Contains the records of the Radiologic Imaging Laboratory (RIL) of the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) from its initial funding by Pfizer, Inc. through its operation as a unit of Diasonics, Inc. and Toshiba America MRI (TAMI). Material relates to the RIL's development and sale of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technology, dated 1963-2010.
Background
Radiologic Imaging Laboratory History: In 1975, the UCSF Department of Radiology, under the direction of Alexander Margulis, founded a small research and development group to investigate new medical diagnostic imaging instruments and systems. The team included electrical engineers, radiofrequency coil experts, computer scientists, and medical researchers. They sought in part to create a clinically viable diagnostic tool using nuclear magnetic resonance imaging, later called magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). They focused on creating a machine capable of safely and effectively capturing scanned images of the living human body. In 1978 the lab, now called the Radiologic Imaging Laboratory (RIL), opened an off-campus facility at 400 Grandview Drive in the Cabot, Cabot and Forbes Industrial Park in South San Francisco. Leon Kaufman served as chief scientist and director and Lawrence Crooks served as assistant director and electrical engineer. RIL researchers regularly consulted with physicians to initiate patient and animal studies and better understand how pathologies impact the imaging of tissue. They experimented with magnet technology and designed new computer hardware and software to improve MRI machine availability, image quality, speed, and sensitivity. RIL originally received funding from the Pfizer Corporation under an agreement with the UCSF Radiology Department. In late 1981, Pfizer discontinued its imaging activities and Diasonics purchased the project. In 1989, Toshiba acquired RIL from Diasonics. In 1994, RIL separated from the University and became a unit of Toshiba America called TAMI RIL. RIL researchers secured numerous patents and received royalties for their technology. In the 1990s, following royalty and patent disputes with UCSF regarding imaging technology, UC Berkeley professor Jerome R. Singer (later joined by Lawrence Crooks) sued the Regents of the University of California. The RIL ceased operation in 2001.
Extent
103 Linear Feet (73 cartons, 8 boxes, 6 oversize boxes, 4 flat file drawers)
Restrictions
Copyright has not been assigned to the Library and Center for Knowledge Management. All requests for permission to publish or quote from material must be submitted in writing to the UCSF Archivist. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the Library and Center for Knowledge Management as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the researcher.
Availability
Collection is open for research. The UCSF Archives and Special Collections policy places access restrictions on material with privacy issues for a specific time period. Restrictions are noted at the series level. This collection will be reviewed for sensitive content upon request. Contact the UCSF Archivist for information on access to these files.