At Scintica, we recognize that high-quality data and animal welfare are both critical in preclinical research. By pairing our iNSiGHT DXA System with the RWD integrated anesthesia solution, researchers now have a seamless workflow for repeated, non-invasive imaging and body composition assessments with minimal radiation exposure and maximum reproducibility.
About the iNSiGHT DXA
The iNSiGHT DXA is a fully shielded X-ray cabinet designed specifically for body composition analysis for small-animal (mice, rats, ~10–500 g) preclinical applications. Measurements are fast (~25 seconds), non-invasive, and use very low-dose radiation, making repeated scans over time safe and practical.
Using dual-energy X-rays, iNSiGHT can decompose each pixel into a three-compartment model: fat mass, lean (non-bone) mass, and bone mineral content. Output metrics include total and regional (ROI) values such as bone mineral density (BMD), bone mineral content (BMC), fat mass (g and %), lean mass (g and %), total weight, tissue area, bone area, and even bone-length measurements.
Because scans are rapid and non-destructive, the same animal can be followed over time, enabling longitudinal in vivo studies of bone, obesity, muscle wasting and cachexia, metabolic syndrome, and more.
About the RWD Integrated Anesthesia System
Using an integrated anesthesia system ensures that animals remain properly sedated and safe during the DXA scan, which is a prerequisite for good image quality and accurate compartmentalization.
SAFE for Animals and Staff:
- Dual-5 channel options: Equal anesthesia dose to each port prevents awakening or overdosing.
- Self-Scavenging: Integrated active gas scavenging eliminates harmful waste gas exposure to staff members.
- Ergonomic: Animals lie in their natural position.
Engineered for X-ray:
- No X-ray obstruction: X-ray-compatible material to not interfere with imaging.
Combined with the iNSiGHT DXA’s fast scan times, the integrated anesthesia setup makes for low-stress, repeatable sessions with minimal handling to preserve animal welfare and data consistency.
The result is a streamlined, researcher-friendly pipeline for in vivo imaging and body composition tracking.
DXA as an Alternative to µCT for Longitudinal Studies
While µCT (micro-computed tomography) offers high-resolution, 3D structural imaging, it comes with tradeoffs, especially for longitudinal studies:
- µCT often involves higher cumulative X-ray exposure, which can limit how frequently animals can be scanned safely over time.
- In contrast, DXA uses dual-energy X-rays at very low doses, delivering enough information for bone, fat, and lean tissue composition (i.e., often the more relevant data for metabolic, musculoskeletal, or longitudinal developmental studies).
Body-composition analysis with the iNSiGHT DXA has been shown to correlate closely with chemical analysis (gold-standard, post-mortem methods) yet offers the major advantage of being non-invasive and in vivo.
Compared to other non-invasive methods like NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance), DXA offers superior precision and accuracy for fat mass and lean mass measurements with fast acquisition and rapid image analysis.
In short: for studies focusing on body composition, metabolism, bone mineral density, or longitudinal changes in small animals, iNSiGHT DXA offers a safer, faster, more practical, and cost-effective alternative to µCT.
Conclusion: A Synergistic, Animal-Friendly Imaging Pipeline
By combining the iNSiGHT DXA system with the RWD integrated anesthesia setup, researchers have access to an ultrafast, low-dose, non-invasive, and highly reproducible imaging and body-composition platform, enabling truly longitudinal preclinical studies with minimal animal stress.
This approach aligns with modern ethical standards of animal welfare, reduces radiation burden compared to µCT, and delivers rich, reproducible data on bone, fat, and lean tissue composition.
For labs seeking to minimize invasiveness and optimize longitudinal data collection, this integrated DXA + anesthesia solution represents a best-in-class option.
Learn more about DXA and Anesthesia systems
Explore body composition imaging and integrated anesthesia solutions built for repeatable, reliable research workflows.
