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PET The eXplore Vista small animal PET scanner has an axial resolution of about 1.2 mm when using OS-EM for image reconstruction. It is also designed for high-sensitivity imaging of mice and rats. With an axial field-of-view of nearly 5 cm, the typical mouse study can be performed with one or at most two bed positions. This instrument is used for: a) studying tumor or other physiology in vivo using positron-emitting radiotracers such as 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG), b) pharmacodynamic studies of new drugs, such as effect on blood perfusion and c) pharmacokinetic studies/development of new radiopharmaceuticals. These techniques are fully quantitative. The most common positron emitters used are: carbon-11, fluorine-18 and iodine-124 with physical half-lives of 20 min, 2 hr and 4 days, respectively.
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SPECT-CT Like PET, SPECT is a quantitative, radionuclide-based imaging method, although it is up to two orders of magnitude less sensitive than PET. It employs radionuclides that are generally longer-lived than those for PET, and often require chelation chemistry for their introduction to the radiopharmaceutical. The most common gamma emitters used are technetium-99m, iodine-123, indium-111, and iodine-125 with physical half-lives of 6 hrs, 11 hrs, 3 days and 60 days, respectively. The Gamma Medica X-SPECT scanner has two detectors and a variety of collimators and is also capable of anatomic coregistration with computed tomography (CT) and planar gamma imaging. Resolution on the order of 1 mm is available using a pinhole collimator. Animals up to the size of rabbits may be imaged with this device.Computed tomography (CT) We do not currently have a dedicated CT imaging device, but often use the X-SPECT only for high-resolution CT. Images with a resolution on the order of 50 micron are obtainable with this instrument. Delineation of bony anatomy is particularly good, but we can also achieve soft tissue contrast upon administration of suitable contrast agents.
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Optical imaging The Xenogen IVIS 200 optical imaging device is capable of bioluminescence and fluorescence imaging in vivo in mice and rats. This instrument has been used primarily for its bioluminescence capability, requiring intravenous administration of luciferin (100 mg/kg) to the animal to achieve luminescence. The primary uses of this instrument are in the verification of molecular-genetic imaging reporters and for following the growth of tumors transfected with the bioluminescent reporter gene, firefly luciferase. This instrument can therefore be used for monitoring tumor therapy, or testing to see if drugs act by the mechanism for which they were designed. The fluorescence module enables in vivo fluorescence imaging at a variety of wavelengths, including imaging of green fluorescent protein (GFP) and quantum dots. Software simulating tomographic imaging has recently been installed. Unlike PET and SPECT, this instrument provides semi-quantitative data.
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MRI and Spectroscopic Imaging The Bruker 9.4T horizontal bore spectrometer is a dedicated system for molecular imaging studies of small animals. The higher sensitivity resulting in greater spatial and/or temporal resolution offered by the 9.4 T spectrometer is critical for in vivo imaging and spectroscopic molecular imaging studies in small animals. The new gradient sets available with the 9.4T spectrometer have much higher gradient strengths and superior performance characteristics. The 9.4 T spectrometer has active RF decoupling, a feature that is essential for the successful use of a surface coil as receiver in combination with a volume coil for uniform excitation, a feature currently present on the 4.7 T Spectrometer and on clinical scanners.
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Ultrasound Through collaboration with the Institute for Cellular Engineering, the Core currently has a VisualSonics small animal ultrasound imager with high-frequency transducers (55 MHz). Although that system has been applied primarily to cardiovascular applications to date, it can be used for the vascular characterization of tumors as well as for site-specific gene and therapeutic delivery.
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Faxitron The MX-20 Specimen Radiography System provides a high contrast, high magnification image (up to five times) of small laboratory animals. It is ideal for imaging the knee, vertebrae, tail, or areas of bone metastasis as evidenced by bone destruction or formation. The MX-20 uses a micro-focus x-ray source (0.020 mm x 0.020 mm) to achieve high resolution and magnification. Tube voltage is 10 kV - 35 kV and tube current is 300 micro-amps. The x-ray beam is calibrated at all kV ranges, which ensures the beam is always focused. The camera is 2" x 4" and can image an entire mouse. The machine is 17" wide, 18.5" deep, and 34" high and weighs 155 pounds. The field of view of the digital camera provides the image instantly on the attached computer monitor. The images can be adjusted and modified using the included software. Images may be archived and accessed at a later date if necessary.
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Irradiator The MSD Nordion Gammacell 40 Exactor, with a dual Caesium137 source, is known for its superior performance, accurate results with safety and ease of operation. A simple keypad control system allows for time increments of one second with an automatic calculation of dose rate. The large ventilated sample container is easy to remove and easy to clean. In addition, the entire system is insured with a battery back-up in case of power failure. A collimator and attenuator are available for gauged reduction of dose rate or controlled precision exposure for your specimen. A valuable and versatile research tool.
All Irradiator users must have access to the BRB Imaging Center, as well as Radiation safety clearance.
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Kodak Imaging The KODAK In-Vivo Imaging Systems FX and F have a comprehensive feature set that provides versatile, high performance imaging and convenient workflow -4 million pixel, 16-bit, cooled CCD camera in a closed optical path imaging chamber provides high resolution, quantitative imaging. 20 x 20 cm field of view allows viewing of up to 5 mice simultaneously. 10X optical zoom lens enables high resolution imaging of specific features of interest-Fully enclosed X-ray imaging source (In-Vivo FX Imaging System only) is controlled by the software interface and is adjustable from 12 35 kVP. -Patented Animal Management Center with integrated radiographic imaging screen (FX only) provides environmental control and sequential imaging in X-ray and fluorescent modes without moving the sample -Multi-wavelength fiber-optic illumination from 380 780 nm provides selectable, highly specific fluorescent imaging. Proprietary wide angle emission filters provide high sensitivity imaging at near-IR wavelengths without optical artifacts. -KODAK Molecular Imaging Software provides comprehensive image analysis capabilities for in-vivo applications, including automated region of interest analysis and relative intensity measurement -Windows 2000/XP and Mac OSX compatible
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