Xray Micro Computed Tomography Scanner

该项目的目标是在拉什医学院建立一个多用户设备，通过使用x射线微计算机断层扫描对骨骼结构进行非破坏性的三维测量。该设备旨在满足由NIH资助的多名研究人员的需求，他们需要所要求的仪器的功能，以进一步实现他们正在进行的研究的具体目标。在这个设施中可能采用的方法将大大扩展其工作范围，超出使用现有技术所能完成的工作范围。拉什医学院正在提供广泛的财政支助，费用分摊安排证明了这一点，其中包括用于专用实验室空间的共计327 558美元和为期5年的部分业务费用。该设施最初将支持六个独立的NIH资助小组的具体目标。这些项目的主题是骨骼损伤和修复，包括关节置换、骨关节炎、类风湿关节炎和组织工程。调查使用动物模型和人体解剖材料。在许多研究中，骨结构是一个重要的终点。调查人员目前使用的方法虽然是最先进的，但只能进行二维分析，而且在许多情况下是破坏性的。我们期望能够在使用分子生物学方法评估基因表达的相同标本中结合非常复杂的骨结构三维表征（在10 mum X 10 mum X 10 mum分辨率下）。此外，三维骨结构数据可作为有限元模型力学分析的基础。因此，同一样品的解剖学、力学行为和分子生物学现在可以结合起来研究。新设施也将大大加强学生，研究住院医师和博士后研究员的研究培训。因此，预计该设施将对拉什医学院的研究和教学任务作出重大贡献。

The goal of this project is to establish a multi-user facility at Rush Medical College that will allow non-destructive, three-dimensional measurement of bone architecture through the use of x-ray micro computed tomography. This facility is designed to meet the needs of multiple investigators who are supported by funded NIH grants and who needs the capabilities of the requested instrument in order to further the specific aims of their ongoing research. The approaches made possible in this facility will significantly extend their work beyond that which can be accomplished using techniques currently available. Extensive financial support is being provided by Rush Medical College as evidenced by a cost-sharing arrangement which includes a total of $327,558 for dedicated laboratory space and partial operating costs for a period of 5 years. This facility will initially support the specific aims of six separate NIH- funded groups. These projects are being conducted on the general topic of skeletal injury and repair, encompassing joint replacement, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and tissue engineering. The investigations use animal models and human autopsy material. In many of the studies, bone architecture is an important endpoint. The methods currently used by the investigators, although state-of-the-art, allow only two-dimensional analyses and, in many cases, are destructive. We anticipate being able to combine very sophisticated three-dimensional characterization of the bone architecture (at a 10 mum X 10 muM X 10 muM resolution) in the same specimens in which molecular biology approaches to assess gene expression are used. Furthermore, the three- dimensional bone architecture data can be used as the basis for mechanical analyses with finite element models. Thus, the anatomy, mechanical behavior and molecular biology of the same sample can now be studied in conjunction. The new facility will also greatly enhance the research training of students, research residents and post-doctoral fellows. Consequently, the facility is expected to make a major contribution to the research and teaching missions of Rush Medical College.