MULTIDISCIPLINARY MICRO CT-3D IMAGING FACILITY

描述(逐字摘自申请者摘要)：此重新提交继续 总的目标是开发和应用X射线微型CT扫描仪，用于 生成具有足够空间分辨率和样本大小的三维图像，以 允许对完整的器官微结构进行量化 功能单位(BFU，例如肾小球及其肾单位)以及 器官内的运输机制。该应用程序专注于完整的 啮齿动物器官或类似大小(1-8cm3)的大型动物和 人类。根据先前的审查，扫描仪的更多详细信息 提供了特征以及这些特征如何与扫描仪的用户相关。这个 这一提议的假设是，台式X射线微型CT可以提供 关于器官微结构的重要新定量信息 硬件和软件增强功能的组合，由其在 满足新的生物医学研究需求，例如定义 转基因小鼠。 目标一--扩展硬件和相关软件，以：(A)扩展 我们目前的X射线探测设备具有超高分辨率的能力 扫描模式和重建算法以及“局部”重建 算法，(B)增加螺旋扫描能力，(C)通过 X射线光学。 AIM II-图像动态处理通过扫描冰冻标本：这 包括在(A)所需的 造影剂的分布或(B)机械变形的程度(例如， 已在体内实现，并在扫描过程中保持冻结。 目标III-通过以下方法对三维微体系结构和相关的三维功能进行量化 通过(A)自动发现/分析血管“树”的扩展进行图像分析 算法；(B)开发可视化工具，以指导和评估 自动图像分析；(C)对整个器官的局部菌株进行量化 在扫描过程中发生机械变形；以及(D)对流体的分析 血管分支几何学的动力学含义。 目标四-继续提供3DMicro-CT成像服务 调查者-用户，使这种体验将指导创新、改进 和/或扩展Micro-CT方法的成像库。

DESCRIPTION (Verbatim from Applicant's Abstract): This resubmission continues the overall goal which is to develop and apply an x-ray micro-CT scanner for generating 3-D images, of sufficient spatial resolution and specimen size, to allow quantitation of intact organ microarchitecture in terms of all Basic Functional Units (BFU, e.g., glomerulus and its nephron) as well as the transport mechanisms within the organ. The application is focused on intact rodent organs or similar-sized (1-8 cm3) "biopsies" from large animals and humans. In response to the previous review, more detail of scanner characteristics and how these relate to users of the scanner, are provided. The hypothesis of this proposal is that bench-top x-ray micro-CT can provide important new quantitative information about organ micro architecture by a combination of hardware and software enhancements motivated by their utility in meeting new biomedical research needs, such as defining the phenotype of genetically modified mice. AIM I - expand the hardware and associated software to: (a) extend the capability of our current x-ray detection device with "super"-resolution scanning modes & reconstruction algorithms and with "local" reconstruction algorithms, (b) add helical scanning capability, (c) increase x-ray flux with x-ray optics. AIM II - Image dvnamic processes bv scanning 'snap' frozen specimen: This involves snap-freezing the specimen immediately after (a) the desired distribution of contrast agent or (b) degree of mechanical distortion (e.g., inflation) has been achieved in vivo and keeping it frozen during the scan. AIM III - Quantitation of 3-D microarchitecture and associated 3-D function by image analysis via (a) extension of automated vascular "tree" finding/analysis algorithm; (b) develop a visualization tool for guiding and evaluating the automated image analysis; (c) quantitation of local strains throughout an organ that is mechanically distorted during a scan; and (d) analysis of the fluid dynamic implications of vessel branching geometry. AIM IV - Continue to provide the 3D micro-CT imaging service to investigator-users so that this experience will guide innovation, improvement and/or expansion of the imaging repertoire of the micro-CT methodology.