Visual Sonics VEVO 770 High Resolution In Vivo Imaging System

The VEVO 770 is an in vivo microimaging system designed for non-invasive small animal research. The system offers spatial resolution down to 30mm and allows real time longitudinal studies of mice and rats from embryonic day 5.5 (mouse) through to the adult. The IRF system is equipped with:

• Both mouse and rat platforms designed to maintain body temperature during anesthesia
• Compact isoflurane anesthesiology system with an oxygen regulator and flow meter

Software packages:

• Analytical software for B-mode image capture and analysis, ECG on screen tracing, measurements and annotations, cineloop image review capture and display
• M-Mode capture and analysis software for characterization of vessel and heart dynamics including wall thickness
• Pulsed Wave Doppler package enabling quantitative analysis of blood flow velocity and waveform measurements
• EKG and Advanced Cardiovascular Software Packages
• Contrast Enhancement and microbubble imaging software package
• Microinjection capability

Scanheads:

• 25MHz/Focal length of 17.3mm/Field of view of 22mm – Imaging deep tissues in larger rats
• 37.5MHz/Focal length of 15mm/Field of view of 20.8mm – Rat cardiology, EKV, General Imaging
• 50MHz/ Focal length of 12.7mm/Field of view of 20mm – Adult mouse cardiology
• 20mm – Adult mouse cardiology
• 82.5MHz/Focal length of 4.5mm/Field of view of 17.4mm – Surface imaging (epidermis, skin tumors, bowel imaging, peritoneum

Applications

• Cardiovascular- enables real time imaging and analysis of physiological function of the heart chambers and associated major vessels and the ability to monitor morphological changes during heart development and pathology.
• Cancer biology- enables 2D and 3D tracking of the shape and size of subcutaneous and orthotopic tumor growth in longitudinal studies of the same animal during therapeutic treatment. Software allows volumetric analysis of tumor size and tracking of tumor vasculature and blood flow.
• Neurobiology- enables real time monitoring of embryonic or neonatal brain development prior to ossification of the skull, cell lineage studies, identification of progressive neural degenerative diseases and visualization of image guided needle injections and extractions.
• Developmental biology- longitudinal and dimensional assessment of the same animal from early in development through adulthood, analysis of timed pregnant animals for developmental stage.

Location: The VEVO 770 is located in Building 1 Basement Lab of the IRF’

IRF Contact: Bob Price 

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JL Shepherd and Associates Model 143-68 Blood Product Irradiator

The Model 143 Cesium-137 gamma irradiator is a self-contained fully shielded unit capable of delivering a dose rate of up to 200 Roentgen/minute. Final sample dose is determined by duration of irradiation that can be controlled by a preset timer on the unit.

Applications

• Irradiation of molecules, cells, tissues, organs or whole animals.

Prior to use all researchers must complete a radiation safety course. After completion of the radiation safety course individuals should contact Dr. Robert Price to set up a training time and to obtain security clearance via a palm reader for access to the unit.

Caliper/Xenogen IVIS Spectrum Fluorescence and Bioluminescence Imaging System

The IVIS Spectrum is the newest instrument in the IVIS line of products and performs bioluminescent and epi- and trans- illumination fluorescent imaging. Unique to the IVIS Spectrum in this line of instruments is the capability to sensitively image both bioluminescent and fluorescent reporters within the same animal and to provide a spectral fingerprint of the signal produced. This is an important advance in in vivo imaging technology as it allows separation of autofluorescence from the emitted signal improving signal resolution.

To obtain the spectral fingerprint the Spectrum uses a series of high efficiency narrow band-pass filters coupled with spectral unmixing algorithms to differentiate between multiple shallow and deep fluorescent sources. This provides a mechanism to optimally perform the wide array of fluorescence/bioluminescence research applications of our investigators. The system is also capable of performing 3D tomographic reconstructions for both bioluminescence and fluorescence.

• High-sensitivity in vivo imaging of fluorescence and bioluminescence
• High throughput (5 mice) with 23 cm field of view
• High resolution (to 20 microns) with 3.9 cm field of view
• Twenty eight high efficiency filters spanning 430 – 850 nm
• Supports spectral unmixing applications which is ideal for distinguishing multiple bioluminescent and fluorescent reporters
• Optical switch in the fluorescence illumination path allows reflection-mode or transmission-mode illumination
• 3D diffuse tomographic reconstruction for both fluorescence and bioluminescence
• Ability import and automatically co-register CT or MRI images yielding a functional and anatomical context
• NIST traceable absolute calibrations
• Gas anesthesia inlet and outlet ports. Both mouse and rat platforms designed to maintain body temperature during anesthesia
• Compact isoflurane anesthesiology system with an oxygen regulator and flow meter

Applications

• Useful in a wide range of biomedical applications including oncology, cardiovascular diseases, stem cell biology, neurobiology, inflammation, toxicology and drug metabolism 

Location: The IVIS Spectrum is located in Building 1 Basement Lab of the IRF 
IRF Contact: Bob Price

More information

Prior to use all researchers must complete a radiation safety course. After completion of the radiation safety course individuals should contact Dr. Robert Price to set up a training time and to obtain security clearance via a palm reader for access to the unit.

Kodak Image Station 2000MM

The Kodak ISM 2000MM is a fluorescence based molecular imaging station equipped with long wavelength full field illumination. Depending on available filters placed in the system green to near IR excitation and emission can be used for imaging luminescent, fluorescent, radiographic and colorimetric labeled biomolecules in a variety of formats including membranes, electrophoresis gels, plates and tissues.

• Available excitation filters are for wavelengths of 465nm, 535nm and 620nm. Corresponding emission filters are for 533nm, 600nm and 700nm.
• Kodak 1 D Image Analysis Software

Applications

Documentation and analysis of:

• DNA, RNA and protein electrophoresis gels
• Southern, Northern and Western blots\
• Dot and Slot blots
• Microplate assays
• Macro Arrays
• Automated cell colony counting
• Plaque screening
• Thin layer chromatography

Location: The ISM2000MM is located in Building 1 Room B51.