Replacement of Small Animal Echocardiographic Instrumentation

描述（由申请人提供）：本提案要求使用一种小动物超声成像系统来替代2002年技术的系统。所要求的机器是VisualSonics 2100成像系统，与旧的终端技术相比，该系统具有新的设计。它基于数字设计的平台，易于升级，并且比旧机器具有更高的帧速率。它还集成了许多新模式，包括彩色多普勒、同步2D和M模式或2D和多普勒成像、可控多普勒、应变和应变率成像、自动心室分析8对比成像和ECG /呼吸门控成像优化软件。它比旧技术有巨大的进步，因为它使用固态线性阵列超声探头，而不是机械探头。这允许电子控制的动态聚焦超声波束，而不是旧的超声探头上的单个焦点。更高的质量和更容易的图像采集结果，允许在成像会话期间更高的吞吐量。与旧系统相比，新探头也减少了成像伪影，因为它们不需要维护。由于设计限制，与现代临床超声机器相比，旧机器使用几十年前的技术运行。新机器为小动物成像带来了巨大的进步和优势。这种技术的重要性是可以理解的，因为转基因和基因敲除小鼠现在被广泛用于促进对疾病分子基础的理解。然而，胚胎或成年啮齿动物的心脏，血管或其他器官的成像已经落后于这些分子进步，从而阻碍了我们评估遗传操作的生理相关性的能力。所要求的仪器将使我们能够：1）对活体啮齿动物进行系列体内测量; 2）获得近乎微观的实时空间分辨率。非侵入性体内 小鼠心脏的功能的评估一直是困难的，因为它的尺寸小，并且还因为它以每分钟>600次的速度跳动。所要求的仪器，第一次，不仅能够准确评估整个心脏功能，但局部室壁运动。这一进展将对理解啮齿动物遗传操作的生理重要性产生深远的影响。从这些研究中获得的信息将产生重要和新颖的数据，这些数据将促进我们对各种疾病过程基础的了解，并可能导致未来的新疗法。此外，所要求的成像平台将使我们能够为我们的学员提供高度期望的能力， 动物模型研究，这一能力将使他们在学术市场上更具竞争力。 公共卫生相关性：拟议的仪器将用于可视化心血管系统和动物的其他器官，从最小的小鼠胚胎到成年大鼠或豚鼠的大小。使用无害的超声波，类似于用于可视化发育中的人类胎儿，它将允许研究人员测量活体动物的大量解剖和功能属性，即使在多个时间点。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This proposal requests a small animal ultrasound imaging system to replace one with technology dating to 2002. The machine requested is a VisualSonics 2100 imaging system which has a new design compared to the older terminal technology. It is based on a digitally designed platform that is easily upgraded and functions at higher frame rates than the older machine. It also incorporates numerous new modes including color Doppler, simultaneous 2D and M-mode or 2D and Doppler imaging, steerable Doppler, strain and strain-rate imaging, automated ventricular analysis8 contrast imaging and ECG / respiratory gated imaging optimization software. It has a tremendous advance over the older technology since it uses solid state linear array ultrasound probes as opposed to mechanical probes. This allows for an electronically controlled, dynamically focused ultrasound beam as opposed to the single focal point on the older ultrasound probes. Higher quality and easier image acquisition results, permitting a higher throughput during an imaging session. Imaging artifacts are also reduced with the new probes vs. the older system, since they do not require maintenance. Due to design limitations, the older machine operated with technology many decades old in comparison to modern clinical ultrasound machines. The new machine brings great advances and advantages for small animal imaging. The importance of this technology can be appreciated since transgenic and knockout mice are now used quite commonly to facilitate understanding the molecular basis of disease. Yet, imaging of the heart, vessel or other organs in embryonic or adult rodents has lagged behind these molecular advancements, thus hindering our ability to assess the physiological relevance of the genetic manipulations. The requested instrument will enable us to: 1) perform serial in vivo measurements in living rodents and 2) obtain real-time spatial resolution that is nearly microscopic. Non-invasive in vivo assessment of the function of the mouse heart has been difficult because of both its small size and also since it beats at >600 times per minute. The requested instrument, for the first time, enables accurate assessment of not only whole heart function, but regional wall motion. This advancement will have profound implications on understanding the physiological importance of genetic manipulations in rodents. The information gained from these studies will yield important and novel data which will advance our knowledge about the basis for a wide range of disease processes and potentially lead to future novel therapies. Further, the imaging platform requested will allow us to equip our trainees for the highly desired ability to perform integrative studies on animal models, a capability that will make them more competitive in the academic marketplace. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: The proposed instrument will be used to visualize the cardiovascular system and other organs in animals ranging in size from the smallest mouse embryo, to the size of an adult rat or guinea pig. Using harmless ultrasound, akin to that used to visualize the developing human fetus, it will allow the investigators to measure a large array of anatomic and functional attributes in the living animal, even at multiple time points.