High-resolution ultrasound in-vivo animal imaging system-Vevo2100

描述（由申请人提供）：本提案的目的是获得用于生物医学研究的高分辨率超声成像系统，该系统使用的小动物从小鼠胚胎到兔子的大小。这是第一个也是唯一一个商用的高频、高分辨率数字成像平台，采用高频线性阵列技术，能够分别以30米和65米的轴向和横向分辨率对活体小动物进行成像，成像深度达到前所未有的36毫米。该系统具有多种新的成像功能，如集成彩色多普勒的3D成像、ecg门控图像配准、左心室（LV）功能分析、应变/应变率分析和谐波对比成像。该系统可以评估整个器官规模功能到细胞水平的生物活性。解剖，功能（流），生理和分子数据可实时从体内成像。数字系统允许通过射频（RF）数据捕获模块访问原始数据，这对于使用我们机构开发的新图像处理技术进行离线数据分析至关重要。该系统将对广泛的跨学科啮齿动物研究具有巨大的价值。作为一个用户群体，我们有9个独立的pi得到了NIH R01等效的支持，5个独立的pi得到了NIH不同资助机制和其他资助机构的支持。参与的pi来自匹兹堡大学校园的不同部门，包括外科、细胞生物学和生理学、药理学、环境和职业健康、生物工程、心血管研究所（CVI）、希尔曼癌症中心和麦高恩再生医学研究所。需要成像系统的项目在小动物身上进行体内临床前测试，涉及心脏、血管和呼吸系统疾病、癌症、工程组织和再生医学等主题。为了提高维护和升级的成本效益，优化共享安排，促进多学科协作环境，该系统将被整合到心血管研究所超声分子成像和治疗中心（由该系统的主要用户Villanueva博士指导），PI （Kim博士）的超声实验室位于该中心。已经成立了一个咨询委员会，并制定了指导方针，以便在用户之间共享成像系统，并使新用户能够使用该系统并接受该系统的培训。我们的系统管理方案旨在确保系统的最佳使用和对所列项目的最大贡献，并不断确定将从该系统中受益的其他NIH项目。所要求的超声动物成像系统的获得将不仅对目前NIH资助的横跨匹兹堡大学校园的项目，而且对未来NIH项目的发展具有巨大的价值。心血管研究所完全致力于维护、人员、空间和长期使用该系统所需的资源支持。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The objective of this proposal is to acquire a high-resolution ultrasound imaging system for use in biomedical research using small animals spanning the size of mice embryos to rabbits. This first and only commercially available high-frequency, high-resolution digital imaging platform with high-frequency linear array technology is capable of imaging live small animals at axial and lateral resolutions of 30 ¿m and 65 ¿m, respectively with unprecedented imaging depth of up to 36mm. This system has diverse new imaging functions such as 3D imaging integrated with color Doppler, ECG-gated image registration, left-ventricular (LV) function analysis, strain/strain rate analysis, and contrast imaging with harmonics. The system can assess whole organ scale functions to cellular level bioactivity. Anatomical, functional (flow), physiological and molecular data are available from in vivo imaging in real time. The digital system allows raw data access through radio frequency (RF) data capturing modules, which is critical to off-line data analysis using new image processing technologies developed at our institution. This system will be of enormous value to a wide spectrum of interdisciplinary rodent research. As a user group, we have 9 independent PIs with active NIH R01 equivalent support and 5 independent PIs with other support from different NIH funding mechanisms and also from other funding institutes. The participating PIs are from different departments across the University of Pittsburgh campus, spanning the Departments of Surgery, Cell Biology and Physiology, Pharmacology, Environmental and Occupational Health, Bioengineering, the Cardiovascular Institute (CVI), the Hillman cancer Center, and the McGowan Institute of Regenerative Medicine. The projects for which the imaging system is needed employ in-vivo preclinical testing in small animals and address topics in cardiac, vascular, and respiratory diseases, cancer, and engineered tissue and regenerative medicine. To promote cost effectiveness in maintenance and upgrade, optimize the sharing arrangement, foster a collaborative multidisciplinary environment, the system will be integrated into the Cardiovascular Institute's Center for Ultrasound Molecular Imaging and Therapeutics, (directed by Dr Villanueva, major user of the system) where the ultrasound laboratories of the PI (Dr. Kim) are located. An advisory committee has been formed and guidelines established by which the imaging system can be shared among the users and by which new users can gain access to and training for the system. Our scheme for managing the system is designed to ensure the best possible use of the system and maximum contribution for the listed projects and to continuously identify other NIH projects that will benefit from this system. The acquisition of the requested ultrasound animal imaging system will be of enormous value to not only to current NIH-funded projects across the campus of the University of Pittsburgh but also to the development of future NIH projects. The Cardiovascular Institute is fully committed to the support of maintenance, personnel, space, and resources required for long-term use of the system. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: With no appropriate in-vivo imaging tool, most of the endpoints utilized in in-vivo studies are non-survival, increasing significantly the number of experiments, undesired variation between animal groups, and the time of the research. Non-invasive in vivo imaging tools can minimize the number of animals and provide the more clinically relevant data in real time. One of the most relevant, clinically useful endpoints that can be obtained in the intact, live organism, is real-time ultrasound assessment. The first and only commercially available highdefinition digital imaging platform, Vevo 2100 by VisualSonics, is capable of real-time imaging of live small animals from zebra fishes or mice embryos to rabbits at the resolution of the typical size of single cell. The acquisition of the requested system will be of enormous value to not only to current NIH-funded projects across the campus at University of Pittsburgh but also development of many other future NIH projects.