ShEEP Request for High Resolution Desktop MicroCT System

请求的设备：此请求用于布鲁克Skyscan 1272 CMOS版高分辨率台式机 微型计算机断层扫描（microCT）系统，一种16样品自动换管器，带有定制3D打印 样品管，钙-羟基磷灰石骨矿物质密度（BMD）体模组和计算机 操作系统和可视化/分析3D数据集所需的布鲁克软件工作站。 设备合理性说明：北佛罗里达/南格鲁吉亚退伍军人卫生系统（NF/SGVHS）是 美国最大的VA医疗保健系统，拥有强大的研究计划，满足各种成像需求。到 为了解决这一问题，NF/SGVHS建立了临床前肌肉骨骼成像核心（PMIC）实验室， 临床前成像核心设施。十多年来，PMIC实验室提供了以下方面的访问和培训： microCT系统，沿着费用基础成像，在NF/SGVHS和其他VA和学术科学家 中心. Skyscan 1172（旧型号）microCT是使用最多的PMIC实验室核心设备。但这 系统已使用超过10年，并处于预期寿命结束时。为了满足我们持续的成像需求，我们要求 Skyscan 1272（新型号）高分辨率microCT。Skyscan 1272是目前世界上分辨率最高的microCT。 市场和图像精细细节小至0.45微米（亚微米分辨率），使用相位对比 增强，这将提高我们对小解剖结构成像的能力（例如，骨微血管 陷窝和神经束）。16样本换管器是Skyscan独有的附件 1272，其在扫描完成时自动更换样品管，并通过 用户编程软件。在这样做时，换管器通过允许连续的 24小时/天microCT扫描，无需用户直接监督。这将使我们能够通过以下方式扩大用户群： 同时提高设备的可用性，并通过减少技术人员的时间来降低microCT的成本。在 这样做，我们将能够招募那些通常无法负担高分辨率成像的用户（例如， 收集初步数据的提案），这将增加我们未来VA成功的可能性， 非VA赠款越来越依赖于高分辨率成像的使用。 预计用途：我们有4个主要VA用户，5个次要VA用户和8个学术用户（共17个用户）， 有持续或预期的microCT需求。主要用户有VA优点，职业发展，合作 研究和/或康复研究奖的小型项目。未成年用户通过同一VA获得资金 机构和/或来自NIH，国防部或私人基金会。学术用户具有三级microCT优先级， 假设研究不会干扰主要/次要用户， 这与退伍军人的健康有关。我们预计，在整个使用寿命期间，microCT的使用时间将超过40小时/周。 根据过去microCT的使用和未来的预测，VA用户将超过75%的机器时间， 主要VA用户占使用时间的50%以上。 支持的项目并使退伍军人受益：PMIC实验室已经建立了许多microCT协议 评估骨、血管和其他软组织的3D微观结构。用户对此建议 在脊髓损伤、骨质疏松症、骨关节炎的小动物模型中评估这些组织的变化， 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实验室支持这些研究者的成像需求，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，包括评估 骨陷窝、微血管和神经束，这些在亚微米分辨率下最佳可视化。

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.