VisualSonics Vevo770 Ultrasound Biomicroscopy and Microinjection Core

描述（由申请人提供）：本共享仪器补助金（S10）要求资金用于购买VisualSonics Vevo770超声生物显微镜和显微注射核心（UBMIC），供美国国立卫生研究院资助的和年轻的研究人员在匹兹堡儿童医院劳伦斯维尔校区的新约翰·g·兰戈斯儿科研究大楼使用。随着人类疾病分子模型在小动物（主要但不限于小鼠）中的迅速扩展，能够进行纵向、高分辨率、高效的功能成像，这是准确、高效和负担得起的研究人员已经成为大多数研究方案的关键。Micro-CT和小口径MRI系统提供了出色的空间分辨率，但不能提供高效的高通量，不能提供心血管功能数据，目前也不能辅助靶向显微注射。由于啮齿动物群体的巨大成本和产生独特的杂交基因型所需的时间，在可行的情况下，获得全面的数据集而不是单个功能参数（如心率或血压）是至关重要的。新型visualsonic高分辨率超声成像系统使用高达82.5 MHz的扫描频率，提供轴向分辨率为30 <m，深度为20 mm的二维图像，成像速率高达每秒1000帧。Vevo770可以生成从直径3mm的中央动脉到直径30 <m的颅内和胎盘内血管的详细心功能数据和血管流速数据。Vevo770还可以在ED 6.5或更早的时候使用离体技术对发育中的小鼠胚胎进行无创成像。通过将高分辨率超声成像与显微注射系统相结合，Vevo770支持将细胞和化合物准确有效地递送到发育中的胚胎和成年啮齿动物的目标部位。虽然我们的研究设施目前包括个体研究者实验室内的各种小动物成像资源，但这些当前的系统无法配置或可用，以满足日益增长的研究者成像和微注射需求。我们的提案概述了(1)科学需求；（二）技术支持、管理、监督；(3)有代表性的研究者研究申请；(4)制度承诺；(5)匹兹堡儿童医院visualsonic Vevo770 umic设备的学术社区福利。umic将由一个在高分辨率超声成像、心血管表型和从小鸡、小鼠和大鼠的胚胎到成年的仪器方面具有成熟专业知识的团队管理，并得到大量的机构支持。我们提出的VisualSonics Vevo770超声生物显微镜和微注射核心（UBMIC）设备为核心用户提供高分辨率功能成像和微注射能力，以便更好地在小动物模型中开发，表征和治疗人类疾病。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This Shared Instrumentation Grant (S10) requests funds to purchase a VisualSonics Vevo770 Ultrasound Biomicroscopy and Microinjection Core (UBMIC) for use by both established NIH-funded and young investigators in the new John G. Rangos Pediatric Research Building at the Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Lawrenceville Campus. With the rapid expansion of molecular models of human diseases in small animals (predominantly but not exclusively in mice) the ability to perform longitudinal, high-resolution, efficient functional imaging that is accurate, efficient, and affordable to investigators has become essential for most research protocols. Micro-CT and small bore MRI systems provide outstanding spatial resolution but cannot be operated to provide efficient high-throughput, cannot provide cardiovascular functional data, and do not currently assist in targeting microinjection. Due to the significant costs of rodent colonies and the time required to generate unique cross-bred genotypes, it is essential to acquire comprehensive data sets rather than individual functional parameters (such as heart rate or blood pressure alone) whenever feasible. The novel VisualSonics high-resolution ultrasound imaging system uses scanning frequencies up to 82.5 MHz to provide 2-dimensional images with an axial resolution to 30 <m, depths of 20 mm, and imaging rates up to 1000 frames per second. The Vevo770 can generate detailed cardiac functional data and vascular flow velocity data from the 3 mm diameter central arteries to 30 <m diameter intracranial and intra-placental vessels. The Vevo770 can also image the developing mouse embryo non-invasively starting at ED 6.5 and earlier using para vivo techniques. By combining high-resolution ultrasound imaging with a microinjection system, the Vevo770 supports the accurate and efficient delivery of cells and compounds to target sites in developing embryos and adult rodents. While our research facility currently includes a variety of small animal imaging resources within individual investigator laboratories, these current systems are not configured or available to meet increasing investigator imaging and micro-injection demands. Our proposal outlines the (1) scientific need; (2) technical support, administration, oversight; (3) representative investigator research applications; (4) institutional commitment; and (5) academic community benefit of our proposed VisualSonics Vevo770 UBMIC facility at the Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh. The UBMIC will be managed by a team with established expertise in high-resolution ultrasound imaging, cardiovascular phenotyping, and instrumentation from the embryo to adult in chick, mouse, and rat species with substantial institutional support. Our proposed VisualSonics Vevo770 Ultrasound Biomicroscopy and Microinjection Core (UBMIC) facility provides core users with high-resolution functional imaging and micro-injection capability in order to better develop, characterize, and treat human diseases within small animal models.