A system, comprising: a lab-scale magnetic resonance imaging device, MRD, having two opposite input ports (21, 23) arranged along a common axis; and an animal handling system for inserting objects to be scanned into said MRD, the animal handling system comprising a first elongated enclosure reversibly insertable into said MRD through one of said input ports (21, 23), said first elongated enclosure comprises an open distal end insertable through said one of said input ports (21, 23), and a proximal end configured to seal against a circumferential edge of said one of said input ports (21, 23), thereby sealing said one of said input ports (21, 23) from the outside environment; and a second elongated enclosure reversibly insertable into said MRD through the other one of said input ports (21, 23), said second elongated enclosure comprises an open distal end insertable through said other one of said input ports (21, 23), and a proximal end configured to seal against a circumferential edge of said other one of said input ports (21, 23), thereby sealing said other one of said input ports (21, 23) from the outside environment; wherein said first elongated enclosure has an ellipsoidal cross-sectional area, said second elongated enclosure has a circular cross-sectional area, and said first and second elongated enclosures (30, 40) are adapted to enclose different types of objects to be scanned (1, 2); and wherein said first and second elongated enclosures (30, 40) are configured so that upon insertion of said first and second elongated enclosures (30, 40) into said MRD through said opposite input ports (21, 23), said second elongated enclosure slides into said first elongated enclosure through said open distal end of said first elongated enclosure. a lab-scale magnetic resonance imaging device, MRD, having two opposite input ports (21, 23) arranged along a common axis; and an animal handling system for inserting objects to be scanned into said MRD, the animal handling system comprising a first elongated enclosure reversibly insertable into said MRD through one of said input ports (21, 23), said first elongated enclosure comprises an open distal end insertable through said one of said input ports (21, 23), and a proximal end configured to seal against a circumferential edge of said one of said input ports (21, 23), thereby sealing said one of said input ports (21, 23) from the outside environment; and a second elongated enclosure reversibly insertable into said MRD through the other one of said input ports (21, 23), said second elongated enclosure comprises an open distal end insertable through said other one of said input ports (21, 23), and a proximal end configured to seal against a circumferential edge of said other one of said input ports (21, 23), thereby sealing said other one of said input ports (21, 23) from the outside environment; wherein said first elongated enclosure has an ellipsoidal cross-sectional area, said second elongated enclosure has a circular cross-sectional area, and said first and second elongated enclosures (30, 40) are adapted to enclose different types of objects to be scanned (1, 2); and wherein said first and second elongated enclosures (30, 40) are configured so that upon insertion of said first and second elongated enclosures (30, 40) into said MRD through said opposite input ports (21, 23), said second elongated enclosure slides into said first elongated enclosure through said open distal end of said first elongated enclosure.