ImTek MicroCAT II MicroCT Scanner

描述（由申请人提供）： 在过去的两年里，威斯康星州大学的小动物肿瘤模型的非侵入性显微成像技术有了显著的增长。这种兴趣主要是通过购买能够在活体小鼠中实现40微米空间分辨率的MicroCAT I（ImTek）microCT扫描仪激发的。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，这是放射科和威斯康星州大学综合癌症中心（UWCCC）的共同努力，我们的microCT扫描仪的实用性得到了显着提高。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，我们的实验室已经报告了许多软组织肿瘤的检测，包括乳腺癌，胰腺癌，肺癌，肠癌，前列腺癌，以及活小鼠中的亚300微米肝肿瘤。我们现在能够使用我们的长效血管造影剂“飞越”直径小于150微米的血管腔，也可以在活小鼠中进行虚拟结肠镜检查。大学内部的合作显微成像工作随着P20分子成像中心规划补助金的授予而爆发，该补助金正式确定了成像科学家与William Dove博士指导的人类癌症联盟小鼠模型研究人员以及其他癌症生物学家之间的互动。MicroCT的需求超出了我们的能力。除了创造巨大的校园需求外，我们先进的microCT分子成像工作还引起了校外学术研究人员以及制药公司甚至ImTek的合作请求。该提案的目的是获得ImTek MicroCAT-II microCT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检测器，更快的采集和重建时间以及microPET兼容床扫描活体大鼠的能力。第二台扫描仪将使我们能够继续开发创新的细胞选择性造影剂，同时继续推进新型小动物肿瘤成像策略。作为细胞选择性CT造影剂开发的领导者，我们的目的是继续开发这些独特的造影剂，并使其可供其他microCT研究者使用。

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.