ShEEP Request for High Resolution Desktop MicroCT System

请求的设备：此请求是为了一台Bruker Skyscan1272高分辨率台式机 微型计算机断层扫描(MicroCT)系统，16个样品的自动换管器，带定制3D打印 样品管、钙-羟基磷灰石骨密度体模装置和计算机 配备Bruker软件的工作站，用于操作系统和可视化/分析3D数据集。 设备理由：北佛罗里达州/南乔治亚州退伍军人健康系统(NF/SGVHS)是 它是美国最大的退伍军人管理局医疗保健系统，拥有强大的研究计划，满足不同的成像需求。至 为解决这一问题，临床前肌肉骨骼成像中心(PMIC)建立了临床前肌肉骨骼成像核心实验室。 临床前影像核心设施。十多年来，PMIC实验室一直提供访问和培训 微CT系统，以及收费基础成像，提供给NF/SGVHS和其他退伍军人事务部和学术界的科学家 中锋。Skyscan1172(旧型号)MicroCT是PMIC实验室使用最多的核心设备。不过，这个 该系统已有10年历史，并已达到预期的使用寿命。为了满足我们持续的成像需求，我们请求 Skyscan1272(新型号)高分辨率MicroCT。SkyScan 1272是最高分辨率的微CT 市场和图像的精细细节小到0.45微米(亚微米分辨率)，使用相位对比度 增强，这将提高我们对微小解剖结构(例如微血管、骨骼)进行成像的能力 腔隙和神经束)。16个样品的换管器是SkyScan独有的附件 1272，它在扫描完成时自动更换样品管，并通过 用户编程的软件。在这样做时，换管器通过允许连续的 24小时全天候MicroCT扫描，无需用户直接监督。这将允许我们通过以下方式扩大我们的用户基础 由于减少了技术人员的时间，同时提高了设备可用性并降低了MicroCT的成本。在……里面 这样做，我们将能够招募通常负担不起高分辨率成像的用户(例如， 那些为提案收集初步数据的人)，这将增加我们在未来退伍军人管理局和 越来越依赖使用高分辨率成像的非退伍军人补助。 预计用途：我们有4名主要退伍军人管理局用户、5名退伍军人管理局次要用户和8名学术用户(共17名用户) 有持续或预期的微CT需求。主要用户具有退伍军人福利、职业发展、合作 康复研究奖中的研究和/或小项目。小用户通过相同的VA获得资金 机制和/或来自美国国立卫生研究院、国防部或私人基金会。学术用户具有第三级微CT优先级， 这是通过基于收费的成像来促进的，假设研究不会干扰主要/次要用户 关系到退伍军人的健康。我们预计在整个生命周期内每周使用40多个小时的微CT 这种设备，基于过去的微CT使用和未来的预测。VA用户将超过75%的机器时间， 主要退伍军人管理局用户占使用时间的50%。 支持的项目和使退伍军人受益的项目：PMIC实验室建立了许多微型CT方案 评估骨、血管和其他软组织的三维显微结构。此建议书的用户 在脊髓损伤、骨质疏松症、骨性关节炎、 肥胖、癌症和其他影响退伍军人健康的疾病。请求的SkyScan 1272 MicroCT 系统将允许PMIC实验室支持这些调查人员的成像需求，这最终将 有利于退伍军人的健康，并将使我们能够扩大我们的MicroCT专业知识，以包括评估 骨陷窝、微血管和神经束，在亚微米分辨率下显示得最好。

Requested Equipment: This request is for a Bruker Skyscan 1272 CMOS Edition high-resolution desktop microcomputed tomography (microCT) system, a 16-sample automatic tube changer with custom 3D printed sample tubes, a calcium-hydroxy apatite bone mineral density (BMD) phantom set, and a computer workstation with Bruker software necessary to operate the system and visualize / analyze 3D datasets. Equipment Justification: The North Florida / South Georgia Veterans Health System (NF/SGVHS) is the largest VA healthcare system in the US and has a robust research program with diverse imaging needs. To address this, NF/SGVHS established the Preclinical Musculoskeletal Imaging Core (PMIC) Lab, a centralized preclinical imaging core facility. For more than a decade, the PMIC Lab has provided access to and training on microCT systems, along with fee basis imaging, to scientists at NF/SGVHS and at other VA and academic centers. The Skyscan 1172 (old model) microCT is the most utilized PMIC Lab Core Equipment. However, this system is >10-years old and at its expected end-of-life. To facilitate our ongoing imaging needs, we request a Skyscan 1272 (new model) high-resolution microCT. The Skyscan 1272 is the highest resolution microCT on the market and images fine details as small as 0.45 µm (submicron resolution), using phase-contrast enhancement, which will improve our ability to image small anatomical structures (e.g., microvasculature, bone lacunae, and nerve fascicles). The 16-sample tube changer is an accessory that is exclusive to the Skyscan 1272, which automatically changes sample tubes upon completion of a scan and initiates each new scan via user programmed software. In doing so, the tube changer increases device availability by allowing continuous 24-hr/day microCT scanning without direct user supervision. This will permit us to grow our user base by simultaneously increasing device availability and by reducing microCT costs, due to less technician time. In doing so, we will be able to recruit Users who may not be able to typically afford high-resolution imaging (e.g., those collecting preliminary data for proposals), which will increase our likelihood of success on future VA and non-VA grants that are increasingly dependent upon the use of high-resolution imaging. Projected Use: We have 4 Major VA Users, 5 Minor VA Users, and 8 Academic Users (17 total users) who have ongoing or expected microCT needs. Major Users have VA Merit, Career Development, Cooperative Study, and/or Small Projects in Rehabilitation Research awards. Minor Users have funding via the same VA mechanisms and/or from NIH, DOD, or private foundations. Academic Users have tertiary microCT priority, which is facilitated via fee basis imaging, assuming the research does not interfere with Major / Minor Users and is relevant to Veterans’ health. We anticipate 40+ hours/week of microCT use throughout the lifespan of this equipment, based on past microCT use and future projections. VA Users will exceed 75% of machine time, with Major VA Users constituting >50% of use time. Projects Supported and Benefit to Veterans: The PMIC Lab has established numerous microCT protocols to assess the 3D microstructure of bone, vasculature, and other soft tissues. The Users on this proposal assess changes in these tissues in small animal models of spinal cord injury, osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, obesity, cancer, and other conditions that impact Veterans’ health. The requested Skyscan 1272 microCT system will allow the PMIC Lab to support the imaging needs of these investigators, which will ultimately benefit the health of Veterans, and will permit us to expand our microCT expertise to include the assessment of bone lacunae, microvasculature, and nerve fascicles that are best visualized at submicron resolutions.