DELab µCT-100
In vivo animal and ex vivo 3D sample micro computed tomography (µCT) for preclinical research
System Overview
The DELab micro computed tomography-100 (µCT-100) is designed specifically for in vivo imaging of small laboratory animals and ex vivo isolated samples. Research applications of the system range from musculoskeletal and metabolic disease, oncology, drug/therapeutic development, cardiology, anatomy, food science, and geology.
The DELab µCT-100 is a fully self-shielded system designed for analysis of ex vivo samples and in vivo small laboratory animals such as mice and rats or similar sized animals up to 350g. The fast scan mode can reduce scan times down to 2 seconds which can be ideal for screening. While the ultra-high-resolution mode optimizes the scan time for resolution down to 1.5µm with image reconstruction. Various modes allow the user to choose their ideal scan time or resolution. The user-friendly application modes are optimized for bone, lung, soft tissue, and metal material (i.e. implants). The x-ray dosage is conveniently tracked for animal monitoring and can range from 0.57 -180 mGy/s. Further animal welfare features of the system include LED surveillance camera, physiological monitoring, airflow heating, and anesthesia gas system.
The DELab µCT-100 can measure the following physical parameters:
– Total volume (TV) (mm3)
– Bone volume (BV)
– Bone mineral density (BMD)
– Ratio of bone and tissue volume (BV/TV)
– Average cortical bone thickness (µm)
– Trabecular bone thickness (µm)
– Number of trabecular bones (Tb. N)
– Ventilation – Inspiration and Expiration – volume (mm3)
– Ratio of body fat to body volume (BF/TV)
Features & Benefits
Fast scan mode allows a 2-second scan time
Fast scan time for high-throughput imaging studies.
Multiple animal beds for different species
The DELab µCT-100 has rat (80mm x 200mm), mouse (40mm x 200mm), and ex vivo sample (10mm x 200mm) bed options for a range of study designs and applications.
Adjustable high-resolution image acquisition down to 1.5µm with image reconstruction
The DELab µCT-100 can acquire images within a range of resolutions from 1.5µm – 44.9µm.
Comprehensive animal welfare features
The DELab µCT-100 has independent controllable heated airflow and anesthesia gas systems for maintaining a stable animal status. Additionally, the DELab µCT-100 has an embedded LED camera for real-time animal monitoring. ECG and respiratory gating are displayed on the interface.
Automatic animal bed and FOV recognition
With One Touch auto-setting, the DELab µCT-100 software recognizes the animal bed size in use and automatically adjusts the field of view (FOV).
Built in syringe pump
The DELab µCT-100 can automatically inject contrast agents during scanning for enhanced soft tissue imaging and enables further applications for the researcher.
Fully self-shielded design
A fully self-shielded design makes the DELab µCT-100 ideal for use in shared spaces and does not require additional safety precautions.
Specifications
| Specification | Rat Mode (all beds) | Mouse Mode (all beds) | Ex Vivo/In Vivo Mode (mouse/ex vivo bed) | Ultra-High Resolution (ex vivo bed) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Scan Method |
Gantry dual energy cone beam CT |
Gantry dual energy cone beam CT |
Gantry dual energy cone beam CT |
Gantry dual energy cone beam CT |
|
Animal Size |
2-350g |
2-350g |
2-35g |
2-20g |
|
Scan Time |
2s (fast scan mode)
20s
|
2s (fast scan mode)
36s
|
111s |
272s |
|
Field of View (maximum W x L) |
80mm
x
180mm
|
40mm
x
135mm
|
23mm
x
90mm
|
10mm
x
54mm
|
|
Image Resolution
(with reconstruction)
|
44.9 μm
(22.45-180 μm)
|
22.5 μm
(11.25-90 μm)
|
15 μm
(7.5-60 μm)
|
9 μm
(1.5-36 μm)
|
|
Dose Rate
(mGy/s in air)
|
0.57~127 mGy/s
|
0.7~178 mGy/s
|
0.8~162
mGy/s
|
0.8~170
mGy/s
|
|
Operating System |
Windows 11 |
Windows 11 |
Windows 11 |
Windows 11 |
|
Dimensions (WxDxH) |
880 x 1500 x 1500mm (950kg) |
880 x 1500 x 1500mm (950kg) |
880 x 1500 x 1500mm (950kg) |
880 x 1500 x 1500mm (950kg) |
|
Power |
100-240V~/50-60Hz/5.85 A |
100-240V~/50-60Hz/5.85 A |
100-240V~/50-60Hz/5.85 A |
100-240V~/50-60Hz/5.85 A |
|
Operating Temp |
10-30℃ |
10-30℃ |
10-30℃ |
10-30℃ |
Musculoskeletal diseases are a broad category of pathologies that affects bone, muscle, or both simultaneously and includes osteoporosis, sarcopenia, and various types of arthritis.
There are a large number of small animal models of these diseases which could benefit from microCT imaging to help elucidate the genetic, molecular, and biochemical pathways that are contribute to these pathologies.
The DELab µCT-100 can be used to assess the structural changes seen in bone and soft tissue, and the quantification of many parameters in bone or body fat analysis.
In this example below, the DELab µCT-100 imaged the structural changes seen in the hind paws of wild-type and IL-18R knockout mice subject to collagen induced arthritis (CIA) and injected with lipopolysaccharide to induce rheumatoid arthritis faster.
Nozaki Y, Ri J, Sakai K, Niki K, Kinoshita K, Funauchi M, Matsumura I. Inhibition of the IL-18 Receptor Signaling Pathway Ameliorates Disease in a Murine Model of Rheumatoid Arthritis. Cells. 2019 Dec 18;9(1):11. doi: 10.3390/cells9010011. PMID: 31861496; PMCID: PMC7017073..
Metabolic disorders occur when the normal metabolic processes within the body are disrupted, either due to genetic abnormalities, or developed due to environmental conditions.
There is a very long list of metabolic disorders, but most common are diabetes, metabolic syndrome, obesity, etc. There are many small animal models of these diseases which could benefit from microCT imaging to help elucidate the genetic, molecular, and biochemical pathways that contribute to these pathologies.
The DELab µCT-100 can be used to assess the structural changes seen in bone and soft tissue, and the quantification of many parameters in bone or body fat analysis.
The DELab µCT-100 3D reconstruction images below detail the structural differences that can occur as a comorbidity with diabetes mellitus. The associated graphs show the analysis of both trabecular and cortical bone parameters. Here control mice are compared to diabetes mellitus (DM) mice.
Kishi K, Goto M, Tsuru Y, Hori M. Noninvasive monitoring of muscle atrophy and bone metabolic disorders using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry in diabetic mice. Exp Anim. 2023 Feb 21;72(1):68-76. doi: 10.1538/expanim.22-0097. Epub 2022 Sep 15. PMID: 36104204; PMCID: PMC9978124.
Analysis of embryonic development is important in the field of developmental biology to help in understanding processes and complications during the embryo stage. Findings from embryonic development research can help understand important research topics such as congenital defects.
In the examples below a 20 second scan of a pregnant mouse with 22.5 µm resolution allows the visualization of several mouse embryos. Alternatively, a longer scan time in the sacrificed pregnant mouse yields greater detail.
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Drug and therapeutic development studies are key to the progression of target compounds or implants progressing to clinical trials. In addition to efficacy of the target compound on their intended pathology, it is also very important to study their safety and potential toxic effects, some of these effects may be seen by studying changes in bone. Small animal studies are routinely used for drug and therapeutic development prior to advancing to clinical trials.
The DELab µCT-100 can be used to assess changes in bone structural parameters or soft tissue structure in response to the administration of a target compound or a therapeutic regime. This can be done by looking for changes in bone mineral density, bone volume, microstructure analysis, and/or changes in fat mass.
In this example below, the DELab µCT-100 looked at guided bone regeneration via implant of a JEM membrane to promote bone regeneration after induction of a critical bone defect in rat mandibles. Imaged here are 3D reconstructed images of rat mandibles taken at 22.5 µm resolution.
Lai C, Cheng M, Ning C, He Y, Zhou Z, Yin Z, Zhu P, Xu Y, Yu P, Xu S. Janus electro-microenvironment membrane with surface-selective osteogenesis/gingival healing ability for guided bone regeneration. Mater Today Bio. 2022 Nov 13;17:100491. doi: 10.1016/j.mtbio.2022.100491. PMID: 36420051; PMCID: PMC9676210.
Image Based Gating. No need for ECG signal to detect organ motion (i.e. cardiac and respiratory gating). This allows for greater clarity during imaging in cardiology or pulmonary studies. The DELab µCT-100 has been used to visual lung metastases and pulmonary fibrosis. Highlighted in the lower image is four-phase cardiopulmonary gates images.
Food science research can encompass many facets of the food system from biochemistry and nutritional sciences to engineering.
The DELab µCT-100 utilizes a dual energy CT algorithm which can allow the identification of changes in body composition (i.e. fat and lean mass). Body composition is a key parameter when studying biochemistry and nutritional sciences in animal models. Examples of the dual energy images split into first and secondary energy can be seen below.
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The DELab µCT-100 has applications in geological sciences such as structural geology, building materials, geochemistry, paleontology (pictured), and 3D mineral distribution.
Image Gallery
Publications & Articles
Publication: Enhanced effect of X-rays in the presence of a static magnetic field within a 3D pancreatic cancer model
Publication: Enhanced effect of X- rays in the presence of a static magnetic
Brock University: Muscle & Bone Preservation in Space
Lab Spotlight: Fajardo Laboratory at Brock University Starting with the inaugural manned flight
Unlocking the Key to Muscle & Bone Preservation in Space: The Potential of GSK3 Inhibition
System Used:iNSiGHT DXA Learn More View Paper Here Starting with the inaugural manned