SkyScan 1172 High-resolution desk-top micro-CT system

描述（由申请人提供）：本提案是关于购买一台SkyScan 1172微型计算机断层扫描（CT）系统，该系统将服务于10个nih资助的研究小组。我们目前的微型CT系统已经以最大容量工作了五年，但其图像分辨率的质量不足以应用于软组织或小于25微米的任何结构。我们的校园对微型CT的需求持续增长，所提出的系统即使在低对比度的样品中也可以实现优异的精细结构分辨率，因此微型CT的新应用可以适应或开发。SkyScan 1172可以以非常高的分辨率对标本进行成像-小于1¿m的体素大小和5¿m的低对比度分辨率。一次典型的扫描只需要大约一个小时，该系统配备了一个集群PC的重建工作站和特殊的软件，可以快速计算图像切片，这样用户就可以在扫描下一个样本时重建扫描。这将提供所需的高通量，以满足我们的研究界对微型CT的需求。该设施的用途包括：1)阐明肾结石的精细结构，利用冲击波碎石法研究结石破碎的机制和研究结石的形成。2)手术中结石患者肾活检的精细结构可视化，显示肾结石形成的早期阶段。3)发现龋齿的早期阶段。4)慢性肾脏疾病血管钙化的制图和定量。5)注射造影剂对四肢及脏器血管床进行定量成像，研究周围血管病变及心肌梗死。6)骨质疏松症、骨结构的遗传基础、溶骨癌、药物对骨的影响、骨微裂的发展、骨的伤口愈合和人工支架中骨再生研究中的骨结构成像和定量。收购SkyScan 1172对于这些和未来需要这种最先进技术的项目的持续进展至关重要。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This proposal is for the purchase of a SkyScan 1172 micro computed tomography (CT) system, which will serve ten NIH-funded research groups. Our present micro CT system has been working at maximum capacity for five years, but its quality of image resolution is not adequate for applications to soft tissue or to any structures smaller than about 25 ¿m. The demand for micro CT on our campus continues to grow, and the proposed system will allow excellent resolution of fine structure even in low contrast samples, so that new applications for micro CT can be accommodated or developed. The SkyScan 1172 can image specimens with very high resolution-less than 1 ¿m voxel size and low-contrast resolution of 5 ¿m. A typical scan takes only about one hour, and the system comes with a reconstruction workstation of clustered PC's and special software to allow rapid calculation of image slices, so that a user can reconstruct a scan while the next specimen is scanning. This will provide the high throughput required to service the needs of our research community for micro CT. Applications for the proposed facility include: 1) Elucidation of the fine structure of kidney stones, for studies of the mechanisms of stone breakage by shock wave lithotripsy and study of stone formation. 2) Visualization of fine structure of kidney biopsies taken from stone patients during surgery, showing the earliest stages of the formation of kidney stones. 3) Detection of the earliest stages of dental caries. 4) Mapping and quantitation of vascular calcification in chronic renal disease. 5) Quantitation and imaging of vascular beds in limbs and organs injected with contrast fill, to study peripheral vascular disease and myocardial infarction. 6) Imaging and quantitation of bone structure in studies of osteoporosis, of the genetic basis of bone architecture, of osteolytic cancer, drug effects on bone, development of microcracks, wound healing in bone, and of bone regrowth in artificial scaffolds. The acquisition of the SkyScan 1172 is essential for continued progress on these and future projects requiring this state-of-the-art technology. Relevance. This proposal is for purchase of a new micro CT ("cat" scanner) system, which will be used to study biological specimens from several laboratories. This technology will make possible new discoveries in the areas of bone disease (such as osteoporosis), blood vessel disease (including the deposition of calcium in vessels in chronic kidney disease), tooth decay, and kidney stone disease.