Animal Imaging Equipment

The Inveon multimodality PET-CT imaging scanner (Siemens) is capable of providing three dimensional CT and PET images of live mouse and rat as well as fixed samples. The system can deliver high resolution CT images (<10 µM for a field-of-view <20 mm) with a maximum field-of-view of 80 mm X 50 mm (with a resolution of approximately 50 µM). The minimum resolution achievable with the PET scanner is approximately 1 mm (maximum field-of-view of 120 mm) with a high sensitivity in picomolar range. The PET scanner uses molecular imaging probes labelled with positrons-emitting radionuclides produced by a cyclotron (i.e. 18F, 11C, 64Cu).

Capabilities: 

• Anatomical CT and functional PET images are automatically co-registered for easy analysis
• An integrated isoflurane anaesthetic gas system and physiologic monitoring system allow for image gating and animal monitoring during scanning
• The Inveon PET component delivers 1.4 mm full width at half maximum (FWHM) spatial resolution at the centre of field of view (FOV) with an axial FOV of 12.7 cm 
• The PET scanner uses molecular imaging probes labelled with positron-emitting radionuclides (i.e. 18F, 11C, 64Cu)
• The CT component has a large area 125 mm X-ray camera and incorporates a high resolution, low noise X-ray imaging detector with 3072 x 2048 pixels and can be configured for a FOV as large as 8.4 cm x 5.5 cm 
• Delivers high spatial resolution ex vivo CT images down to 8 µm for a 20 mm FOV, allowing separate analysis of cortical and trabecular compartments of bone 
• Multiple Inveon Research Workplace workstations for multimodality image review, fusion, and analysis 
• Workstations support CT, PET and MR data in DICOM and Siemens CT and PET formats
• Quantitative analysis can be performed on static, gated and dynamic data 

Higher resolution ex vivo and in vitro technologies are available at CAI for validation of pre-clinical in vivo PET imaging data:

• Biodistribution studies (Perkin Elmer Wizard Gamma well counter) 
• Autoradiography studies (Amersham Typhoon Biomolecular Imager)

For information about the features of this instrument, please contact the Facility Manager.

The Bruker Biospec MRI scanner consists of a 9.4 Tesla, 300 mm ultrashield refrigerated 30 cm magnet interfaced to a scalable Bruker Avance III spectrometer that allows unparalleled flexibility for MRI scanning of small and medium sized research animals and other samples.

The system incorporates a cryoprobe, which enables maximum signal and image quality to be achieved for rodent mouse brain imaging. The system also includes 8 parallel RF transmit and receive channels for multi-coil phased array imaging and numerous coils to investigate nuclei other than standard protons or "water" imaging, notably:

• Mouse and rat head and body coils for live animal and sample imaging
• 1 H mouse head cryoprobe, which enables maximum signal and image quality to be achieved for mouse brain imaging
• carbon-13 coils to investigate metabolism
• sodium-23 coils to investigate cell viability
• phosphorus-31 coils to investigate tissue energetics
• fluorine-19 coils for labelling of targeted tracers
• 8 parallel RF transmit and receive channels for multi-coil phased array

This system offers new potential for advancing preclinical research and molecular imaging in national and international researchers collaboration within The University of Queensland and is available for use through the Australian National Imaging Facility. The system was funded with assistance from the Queensland State Government under the Australian Commonwealth Government's Education Investment Fund scheme.

For more information, please contact the Facility Manager.

The University of Queensland commissioned a state-of-the-art 16.4T MRI spectrometer in October 2006. This powerful system is the only one of its kind in the southern hemisphere and one of six in the world.

The 700 MHz wide-bore micro-imaging system is capable of providing extremely detailed images of intact biological specimens. This spectrometer allows live mouse, fixed tissue and sample imaging from 4 mm to 30 mm diameter. Probes are available for imaging proton, fluorine and carbon.

Additionally, the Bruker Ultrashield Plus 700 WB Avance NMR spectrometer has a vertical open bore diameter of 89 mm. It has an available space of up to 34 mm diameter, which is optimal for live mouse imaging and various types of ex vivo samples.

The scanner is equipped with three types of gradient inserts: micro5, micro2.5 and mini0.5 which provide gradient strengths of 4.8, 2.5 and 0.5 mT/m/A.

To achieve highest sensitivity, the scanner is equipped with new generation SAW and quadrature microimaging coils (5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 28 and 35 mm diameters). The 5-15 mm coils are suitable for imaging of excised (fixed tissue samples) such as brain, spinal cord and biopsy samples. The 20-35 mm coils are dedicated for mouse live imaging.

The 16.4T is also equipped with High Resolution Magic Angle Spectroscopy (HR-MAS), which can be used to obtain 1H, 13C and 31P spectroscopy information from biopsy samples.

The current 16.4T configuration is approximately twice as sensitive as the highest human MRI scanner (7T) available at CAI, and is predominantly used for microimaging, in particular, for in vivo / ex vivo mouse imaging and spectroscopy. Specific applications include high-resolution diffusion imaging, susceptibility-weighted imaging and 19F imaging.

Examples of imaging projects include:

• Diffusion microimaging of fixed embryo, brain, breast and prostate cancer tissue samples.
• Longitudinal studies of mouse models of spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy and Alzheimer's disease.
• Detection of abnormal brain development using diffusion imaging and fibretracking.
• Nephron imaging of kidney ex-vivo

For further information, please contact the Facility Manager.

The inVision 256-TF MSOT system offers unique imaging capabilities, combining tomographic acoustic imaging with optical sensitivity. The exquisite spectral resolution offered by this instrument provides a powerful methodology for elucidating the presence of both endogenous and exogenous probes. 

Capabilities: 

• Single wavelength optoacoustic imaging at 10 Hz
• Real-time spectral component visualization 
• Penetration depth of up to 2-4 cm facilitating enhanced whole animal imaging
• Cross-sectional in-plane resolution of 150 um 
• Tomographic ultrasound detector array with 256 elements 
• Rapid processing of temporal and spectral elements in imaging experiments

The IVIS® Lumina™ X5 high-throughput 2D optical imaging system combines high-sensitivity bioluminescence and fluorescence with highresolution x-ray. This instrument is the workhorse for those undertaking preclinical assessment of novel therapeutics or imaging agents, with very high throughput enabled by the rapid screening of up to 5 mice simultaneously.

 Capabilities:

• High-throughput optical and x-ray 
• High resolution, low dose X-ray with optical overlay
• Supports mouse or rat imaging (20 x 20cm FOV) 
• Compute Pure Spectrum (CPS) spectral unmixing 
• Full fluorescence tenability through the NIR spectrum (up to 900 nm)
• Rapid data acquisition, analysis with streamlined workflows

Large animal imaging research is available at CAI with the Centre’s 3T and 7T Whole Body MRI and Biograph Horizon PET/CT Large Bore Scanners. The scanners are used for CAI’s comparative oncology research program, assisting with the diagnosis of companion animals whilst contributing to cancer research

To find out more about large animal imaging, visit the human imaging page