ImTek MicroCAT II MicroCT Scanner

描述(由申请人提供)： 在过去的两年里，威斯康星大学对小动物肿瘤模型的非侵入性显微成像有了显著的增加。这种兴趣主要是由于购买了一台能够在活体小鼠身上实现40微米空间分辨率的MicroCAT I(IMTEK)微CT扫描仪。造影剂开发实验室的Jamey Weichert博士正在开发细胞选择性CT造影剂，这大大提高了我们MicroCT扫描仪的实用性。造影剂开发实验室是放射科和威斯康星大学综合癌症中心(UWCCC)的联合努力。据我们所知，这些试剂是唯一适合与MicroCT扫描仪一起使用的分子CT造影剂。因此，我们的实验室报告了在活体小鼠体内检测到大量软组织肿瘤，包括乳腺、胰腺、肺、肠、前列腺以及亚300微米肝脏肿瘤。使用我们的长效血管造影剂，我们现在能够通过直径小于150微米的血管的管腔，还可以在活着的小鼠身上进行虚拟结肠镜检查。随着P20分子成像中心计划拨款的授予，大学内部的合作微成像工作取得了突飞猛进的进展，这项拨款正式确立了成像科学家与威廉·多夫博士指导的人类癌症联盟研究人员的小鼠模型以及其他癌症生物学家之间的互动。微型CT的需求已经超出了我们的产能。除了创造巨大的校园需求，我们先进的MicroCT分子成像努力还导致校外学术研究人员以及制药公司，甚至IMTEK的合作请求。这项提议的目的是购买IMTEK MicroCAT-II微型CT扫描仪。该仪器为我们的研究人员提供了低于18微米的空间分辨率，凭借其更大的机架和探测器，能够扫描活着的老鼠，更快的采集和重建时间，以及与microPET兼容的床。第二台扫描仪将允许我们继续开发我们的创新细胞选择性造影剂，同时继续推进新的小动物肿瘤成像策略。作为细胞选择性CT造影剂开发的领先者，我们打算继续开发这些独特的造影剂，并将其提供给其他MicroCT研究人员。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): There has been a dramatic increase in noninvasive microimaging of small animal tumor models at the University of Wisconsin over the past two years. This interest was mainly stimulated by the purchase of a MicroCAT I (ImTek) microCT scanner capable of 40-micron spatial resolution in live mice. The utility of our microCT scanner is enhanced significantly by the availability of cell-selective CT contrast agents being developed by Dr. Jamey Weichert of the Contrast Agent Development Lab, a joint effort between the Department of Radiology and the University of Wisconsin Comprehensive Cancer Center (UWCCC). To our knowledge, these agents are the only molecular CT contrast agents that are suitable for use with microCT scanners. Accordingly, our laboratory has reported the detection of numerous soft tissue tumors including breast, pancreatic, lung, intestinal, prostate, as well as sub 300-micron liver tumors in live mice. We are now able to "fly through" the lumen of blood vessels less than 150 microns in diameter using our long-acting vascular contrast agent and can also perform virtual colonoscopy in live mice. Collaborative microimaging efforts within the University exploded with the awarding of a P20 Molecular Imaging Center Planning grant, which formalized interactions between imaging scientists and Mouse Models of Human Cancer consortium investigators directed by Dr. William Dove, as well as other cancer biologists. MicroCT demand has overwhelmed our capacity. In addition to creating tremendous campus demand, our advanced microCT molecular imaging efforts have resulted in collaborative requests from extramural academic investigators as well as pharmaceutical companies, and even ImTek. The aim of this proposal is to acquire an ImTek MicroCAT-II microCT scanner. This instrument affords our researchers sub-18 micron spatial resolution, the capability of scanning live rats by virtue of its larger gantry and detector, faster acquisition and reconstruction times, and microPET-compatible beds. A second scanner will permit us to continue development of our innovative cell-selective contrast agents, while continuing to advance novel small animal tumor imaging strategies. As the leader in cell-selective CT contrast agent development, it is our intent to continue development of these unique agents and make them available to other microCT investigators.