Description:

The 4.7T 31-cm bore Varian DirectDrive scanner is a fully broad-banded imaging/spectroscopy system equipped with actively shielded gradients (40 G/cm, rise times full amplitude of 130 µs), two independent transmit and one independent receive channels. Three transmit/receive quadrature imaging volume coils are available: 38 mm Litz coil (mouse), 63 mm birdcage coil(rat), and 160 mm birdcage coil (rabbit). The cost to use the system is $100/hr. System operation and animal prep support can be provided based on availability and need. The VUIIS provides computer access for data processing.

Description:

The 7T 16-cm bore Varian DirectDrive scanner is a single frequency (¹H) system designed primarily for MRI and ¹H-MRS studies of small rodents. The system is equipped with actively shielded gradients of 27 G/cm, rise times full amplitude of 100 µs. Three transmit/receive quadrature imaging volume coils are available: 25 mm (mouse head), 38 mm (mouse body), 63 mm (rat) for imaging. The cost to use the system is $100/hr. System operation and animal prep support can be provided based on availability and need. The VUIIS provides computer access for data processing.

Description:

The 9.4T 21-cm bore Varian DirectDrive scanner is a fully broad-banded imaging/spectroscopy system equipped with actively shielded gradients (40 G/cm, rise times full amplitude of 135 µs), two independent transmit, and four independent receive channels. Two transmit/receive quadrature imaging volume coils are available: 38 mm Litz coil (mouse), and 63 mm birdcage coil (rat). The cost to use the system is $100/hr. System operation and animal prep support can be provided based on availability and need. The VUIIS provides computer access for data processing.
Any publication of work performed on this system should acknowledge the NCRR instrument grant 1S10 RR17799.

Description:

A vertical 4.7T/60 cm. bore Varian scanner equipped with Magnex gradients and an array of coils as well as a special hydraulic chair is available for functional, structural and metabolic studies of awake, behaving non-human primates.

Description:

The Vibrotome 8800 Cryo-microtome is capable of sectioning whole-animal (bone-in) tissue samples up to 250x110x45 mm (small rodent), at section thicknesses between 10-40 um. This device is capable of sectioning a variety of embedding materials, including: ice, CMC, paraffin, and plastic. In addition, the microtome is equipped with an aftermarket digital camera system capable of acquiring high-resolution (30um in-plane resolution) photographs of the blockface during sectioning. These images can then be reconstructed using techniques developed at the VUIIS Center for Image Analysis, and allow registration of in vivo imaging with ex vivo data such as histology.

Description:

The Maran is a desktop permanent magnet 0.5T NMR scanner with strong gradient amplifiers. It has a 25 mm diameter bore, and an axial RF window of approximately 4 cm. It can be used for imaging, but routine studies usually entail spectroscopic acquisition of relaxometic and diffusion sensitized data. It was upgraded to the current console (Maran DRX-II) in March, 2008. The console uses a proprietary pulse sequence library written in Pascal, but original pulse sequences are available and constantly under development. The Maran can be booked via the CSAI online scheduling system at $25 per hour.

Description:

The Concorde Microsystems microPET Focus 220 is a positron emission tomography scanner with a 19 cm (transaxial) x 7.6 cm (axial) field of view. The system has an absolute sensitivity of 4% with a spatial resolution of ~1.3 mm at the center of the field of view. List-mode data acquisition along with scatter and attenuation correction capabilities allow for dynamic and quantitative imaging studies. Cardiac and respiratory gating options are available.

Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG), a tracer for studying glucose metabolism, is routinely available. Fallypride (for studies of the dopaminergic system), FLT (cellular proliferation), and FMISO (hypoxia) are available by arrangement with the radiochemistry group. 64Cu-ATSM, a hypoxia agent, can be obtained on an every other week basis via an arrangement with Isotrace Technologies. Contact Ron Baldwin ( ronald.baldwin@vanderbilt.edu ) to discuss options for obtaining other PET radiotracers.

System operation and animal prep support are provided. The cost to use the system is $100/hr. Any publication of work performed on this system should acknowledge the NCRR instrument grant 1S10 RR17858.

Description:

The Bioscan NanoSPECT/CT system combines a single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) system with an x-ray CT. The SPECT system consists of four gamma cameras, each of which is outfitted with a nine-pinhole imaging aperture. Three different sets of pinhole apertures are available: one set for rat imaging (2.5 mm diameter pinholes), one set for high-sensitivity mouse imaging (1.4 mm diameter pinholes), and one set for high-resolution mouse imaging (1.0 mm diameter pinholes). The system is capable of acquiring dynamic images as well as dual-isotope imaging. All standard SPECT radionuclides can be accommodated (99mTc, 125I, 123I, 111In). The x-ray CT scanner and SPECT system are fully integrated and aligned such that co-registered CT images provide anatomical information to assist in interpretation and analysis of the SPECT images.

Several radiotracers are routinely available from the VUMC radiopharmacy, including 99mTc-sestamibi, 99mTc-pertechnetate, 99mTc-MDP, and 99mTc-MAG3.

System operation and animal prep support are provided. The cost to use the system is $90/hr. Any publication of work performed on this system should acknowledge the NCRR instrument grant 1S10 RR32784.

Imtek microCAT II. The Imtek MicroCAT II scanner is an X-ray computed tomography system capable of performing imaging studies of small animals in vivo or specimens. The low-power (40W) micro-focal X-ray tube operates at a maximum voltage of 80kVp. The X-ray detector is comprised of a cooled 4096x4096 CCD coupled to a phosphor screen via a fiber-optic taper. A variable field of view allows for imaging areas as large as 110mm x 110mm (transaxial x axial), while the pixel size can be as small as 30 microns x 30 microns. Respiratory gating of acquisition is available. System operation and animal prep support are provided. The cost to use the system is $100/hr.

Scanco uCT 40. The Scanco uCT 40 is an X-ray CT scanner designed for ultrahigh-resolution scanning of ex vivo specimens. Its microfocal X-ray tube operates between 40 and 70 kVp, and the scanner can accommodate samples up to 35 mm diameter and 75 mm height. The system is equipped with dedicated software for image reconstruction, visualization, and analysis. The analysis software includes a full suite of tools for bone morphometry measurements. The cost to use the system is $17/hr.

The Faxitron LX-60 is a digital radiography system capable of producing high-resolution x-ray images of small animals and specimens. The x-ray tube has a 20 micrometer focal spot size and can be operated at any voltage between 10 and 60 kV at a current of 300 microamps. The user-selected exposure time can be set from 0.1 to 999 seconds. The x-ray detector has an intrinsic resolution of 10 lp/mm, and the self-shielded cabinet is equipped with slots that allow the user to select the image magnification by adjusting the positioning of the object and detector. The cost to use the system is $10/hr.

Description:

The VisualSonics 770 High-Resolution Imaging System enables visualization, assessment, and measurement of anatomical structures and hemodynamic function in noninvasive imaging studies of small animals. B-mode (2D and 3D), power Doppler (2D and 3D), M-mode, and pulsed-Doppler imaging mode are available for anatomical, cardiac and flow analysis, respectively. Contrast enhanced tecnhiques are also available that allow for quantification of blood flow and for targeting VEGFR-2 cell surface receptors. The high frequency at which the 770 operates (20-55MHz) allows for achieving spatial resolution down to 30 microns; currently the highest spatial resolution available in real time imaging. The cost to use the system is $50 per hour. System operation and animal preparation support can be provided based on availability and need.

Description:

Xengogen IVIS 200.  The Xenogen IVIS 200 imaging system is designed specifically for in vivo bioluminescence studies and is outfitted with a cooled CCD camera, CryoTiger refrigeration unit, and special imaging chamber.  The IVIS 200 is also capable of fluorescence imaging and is configured with filters for dyes such GFP/FITC (Ex. 445-490nm/Em. 515-575nm), DSRed (Ex. 500-550nm/Em. 575-650nm), Cy5.5 (Ex. 615-665nm/Em. 695-770nm), and Indocyanine green (710-760nm/810-875nm).  Other filter combinations are possible.  Up to 5 mice can be imaged simultaneously with the IVIS system.  The current cost to use the system is $30 per hour.

CRI Maestro.  The CRI Maestro optical imaging system is designed primarily for in vivo fluorescence imaging.  The Maestro is capable of background discrimination (autofluorescence) using spectral un-mixing techniques. 

Description:

All animal studies must have prior IACUC approval. Animal ventilators, anesthesia machines, and physiological monitoring systems are available for all imaging systems in the CSAI. Users may be billed for additional anesthetics, gases and animal prep supplies.