Radiology

I. MicroPET R4 Rodent Scanner

PET is a unique imaging technology that provides information to the user about the living organism’s biochemical processes and location of disease at the molecular level.  The microPET R4 is a dedicated small animal PET (Positron Emission Tomography) imaging device.  microPET provides researchers in the biomedical sciences with a compact and very high performance PET system that can be used to non-invasively image a wide range of laboratory animals in a routine laboratory setting. Researchers around the world are using microPET scanners to:

• Study animal models of human disease
• Study genetically engineered animals
• Assess new pharmacological agents in drug development
• Assess novel drug delivery and gene therapy approaches
• Develop new molecular imaging assays
• Develop new radiotracers for use in diagnostic imaging

Non-invasive, in vivo functional imaging with microPET® allows both serial and longitudinal studies to be conducted in the same animal. This gives the researchers the opportunity to follow a single animal over time and to monitor the effects of interventions on disease progression and outcome. microPET is therefore a particularly valuable tool in animal models that have high intrinsic value or which exhibit high variability.

All scanners utilize unique Lutetium Oxyorthosilicate (LSO) detector technology, and include a computer controlled bed, a laser alignment system, image reconstruction, image display and basic image analysis. 

Technical Specifications

In Vivo Molecular Imaging Core Facility

MICF Faculty and Staff

MicroCAT II

Fluorescence Imaging

Bioluminescence Imaging

Location of MICF

Imaging Software

Contrast agent

Sample Studies and References