TORSIONAL SUPPORT APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CRANIOCAUDAL ROTATION OF ANIMALS
A torsional support apparatus is disclosed for craniocaudal rotation of test animals to enable multiple-view imaging. The animal is supported in a U-shaped loop of optically transparent material and the loop is moved to apply torsion to the animal to rotate it about its craniocaudal axis. Methods of imaging also are disclosed that use the torsional support technique.
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Reference is made to and priority is claimed from provisional U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 61/131,948, filed Jun. 13, 2008 by Feke et al entitled TORSIONAL SUPPORT APPARATUS FOR CRANIOCAUDAL ROTATION OF ANIMALS, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference into this specification.
This application is a Continuation of the following commonly assigned, copending U.S. patent applications, the disclosure of each of which also is incorporated by reference into this specification:
U.S. Ser. No. 11/221,530 filed Sep. 9, 2005 by Vizard et al., entitled APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MULTI-MODAL IMAGING;
U.S. Ser. No. 12/196,300 filed Aug. 22, 2008 by Harder et al., entitled APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MULTI-MODAL IMAGING USING NANOPARTICLE MULTI-MODAL IMAGING PROBES;
U.S. Ser. No. 12/354,830 filed Jan. 16, 2009 by Feke et al., entitled APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MULTI-MODAL IMAGING;
U.S. Ser. No. 12/381,599 filed Mar. 13, 2009 by Feke et al., entitled METHOD FOR REPRODUCING THE SPATIAL ORIENTATION OF AN IMMOBILIZED SUBJECT IN A MULTI-MODAL IMAGING SYSTEM;
U.S. Ser. No. 12/411,432 filed Mar. 26, 2009 by Feke, entitled APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR FLUORESCENCE IMAGING AND TOMOGRAPHY USING SPATIALLY STRUCTURED ILLUMINATION; and
U.S. Ser. No. 12/475,623 filed Jun. 1, 2009 by Feke et al., entitled TORSIONAL SUPPORT AND APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CRANIOCAUDA ROTATION OF ANIMALS;
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe invention relates generally to the field of imaging systems, and more particularly to the imaging of objects. More specifically, the invention relates to a torsional support apparatus for craniocaudal rotation of animals to enable multiple-view imaging.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONElectronic imaging systems are known for enabling imaging of animals, for example mice. An exemplary electronic imaging system 10 is shown in
Light source 12 can include an excitation filter selector for fluorescence excitation or bright-field color imaging. Sample environment 14 is preferably light-tight and fitted with light-locked gas ports for environmental control. Such environmental control might be desirable for controlled X-ray imaging or for life-support of particular biological specimens. Imaging system 10 can include an access means or member 38 to provide convenient, safe and light-tight access to sample environment 14. Access means are well known to those skilled in the art and can include a door, opening, labyrinth, and the like. Additionally, sample environment 14 is preferably adapted to provide atmospheric control for sample maintenance or soft X-ray transmission (e.g., temperature/humidity/alternative gases and the like). Camera and lens system 24 can include an emission filter wheel for fluorescent imaging. Examples of electronic imaging systems capable of multimodal imaging are described in the previously mentioned, copending, commonly assigned applications of Vizard et al, Feke and Feke et al.
In operation, the system is configured for a desired imaging mode chosen among the available modes including X-ray mode, radioactive isotope mode, and optical imaging modes such as bright-field mode, fluorescence mode, luminescence mode, and an image of an immobilized subject, such as a mouse 40 under anesthesia and recumbent upon optically transparent animal support member 30, is captured using lens and camera system 24. System 24 converts the light image into an electronic image, which can be digitized. The digitized image can be displayed on the display device, stored in memory, transmitted to a remote location, processed to enhance the image, and/or used to print a permanent copy of the image. The system may be successively configured for capture of multiple images, each image chosen among the available modes, whereby a synthesized image, such as a composite overlay, is generated by the combination of the multiple captured images.
Mouse 40 may successively undergo craniocaudal rotation and immobilization directly onto planar animal support member 30 in various recumbent body postures, such as prone, supine, laterally recumbent, and obliquely recumbent, whereby the mouse is stabilized by gravity for each body posture, to obtain multiple views, for example ventral and lateral views as described in “Picture Perfect: Imaging Gives Biomarkers New Look”, P. Mitchell, Pharma DD, Vol. 1, No. 3, pp. 1-5 (2006). As seen in
Direct immobilization of the animal in a recumbent posture onto an optically transparent planar support and imaging from below is advantageous for several reasons. First, the range of craniocaudal rotation angles, and hence the range of view angles, is unlimited and continuous. Second, the human experimenter has access to the animal. For example, where an experiment requires an intimate delivery, such as by injection, oral gavage, inhalation, transrectal delivery, transdermal delivery, or transmucosal delivery, of a substance, such as a drug, optical fluorescence imaging agent, X-ray contrast agent, or radionuclide imaging agent, to an animal, it is often desirable to capture images of the animal both prior to and after delivery of the substance without substantially physically disturbing the animal in the imaging system. This is especially desirable when studying the perfusion and clearance of imaging or contrast agents or therapeutic response of a drug over time. Third, the human experimenter has access to the immediate environment around the animal. For example, it is often desirable to clean the immediate environment of residue, including animal urine, feces, or surface debris that might otherwise cause imaging artifacts. Fourth, by virtue of stabilization by gravity, minimal manipulation and restraint of the animal is required to place it in the imaging system in a desired posture, hence facilitating an ergonomic protocol for the human experimenter. Fifth, recumbent postures are desired to minimize physiological stress on the animal. Sixth, the optically transparent support provides a physical surface to serve as a reference for a focal plane for the lens and camera system to facilitate the capture of sharp, well-resolved images. Seventh, the optically transparent support facilitates multimodality imaging in that a removable phosphor screen can be located proximally to the support surface, therefore providing a common focal plane for both the optical imaging modes (bright-field mode, fluorescence mode, and luminescence mode) and the imaging modes requiring a phosphor screen (X-ray mode and radioactive isotope mode); the common focal plane is necessary for precise co-registration of overlaid images from the optical imaging modes and the imaging modes requiring a phosphor screen. Eighth, the imaging light path is stationary and common for all view angles and all imaging modes, thereby providing for simple, inexpensive components to define the imaging light path.
On the other hand, direct immobilization of a recumbent animal onto a planar support is disadvantageous in that in known imaging systems a means is lacking to precisely control the craniocaudal rotation angle, and hence the view angle, of the animal, for example to +/−5 degree precision. Improved control of the view angle would improve the experimenter's ability to quantify molecular signals. In the case of optical molecular signals obtained from fluorescence and luminescence modes, the signal is dependent upon the depth of tissue between the animal surface and the distributed fluorescent or luminescent content inside the animal through which the light must travel. That depth of tissue is dependent upon the animal's posture. In the case of radioactive isotope molecular signals, the signal is dependent upon the distance of the distributed radioactive isotope inside the animal from the phosphor screen. That distance is dependent upon the animal's posture.
Improved control of the view angle also would improve the experimenter's ability to reproduce the spatial orientation of an animal. For example, an animal used in a longitudinal imaging study is loaded into an imaging system and immobilized for a first time, imaged for the first time, unloaded from the imaging system, loaded into the imaging system and immobilized for an at least second time, and imaged for the at least second time, thereby producing a first-time set of images and an at least second-time set of images. If the spatial orientation of the animal, for example the craniocaudal rotation angle of the animal, with respect to the imaging system is different between the first time and the at least second time, then the at least second-time set of images may be affected by the difference in the spatial orientation compared to the first-time set of images. This difference may result in artifacts, such as relative attenuation or enhancement of a molecular signal, upon comparison to the first-time set of multimodal molecular images. Similarly, this difference may lead to a result that the first-time set of images and the at least second-time set of images will not be co-registered, thereby degrading the quantitation provided by a simple regions-of-interest analysis wherein a single regions-of-interest template is applied to both the first-time set of images and the at least second-time set of images.
For example, when a plurality of animals are used in an imaging study, and are loaded into an imaging system and immobilized, whereby the loading and immobilization may be performed serially at a given spatial location within the field of view of the imaging system, or may be performed in parallel across a plurality of spatial locations in the field of view of the imaging system, the spatial orientations of the animals, for example the craniocaudal rotation angles, may differ among the plurality of animals, so that each set of images for each animal may be affected by the difference in the spatial orientation, thereby resulting in artifacts, such as relative attenuation or enhancement of a molecular signal, in one set of images compared to another set of images.
If animals are loaded serially at a given spatial location within the field of view, then the sets of images may not be co-registered among the plurality of animals due to differences in the spatial orientations of the animals, for example the craniocaudal rotation angles, thereby degrading quantitation provided by a simple regions-of-interest analysis wherein a single regions-of-interest template is applied to the sets of images corresponding to the plurality of animals.
If animals are loaded in parallel across a plurality of spatial locations in the field of view of the imaging system, then regions of interest defined for one animal may not be spatially translatable to the other animals by the simple difference between the spatial locations of the animals due to differences in the spatial orientations, for example the craniocaudal rotation angles, of the animals at their locations, thereby degrading quantitation provided by a simple regions-of-interest analysis wherein an array-like regions-of-interest template (i.e., multiple copies of a set of regions of interest across the field of view) is applied to the set of images.
Although imaging systems are known that can obtain multiple views of an animal with a stationary camera system wherein the view angle is more precisely controlled, none of these provides all of the advantages of direct immobilization of a recumbent animal onto a support. Strapping the subject down onto an angularly adjustable goniometer stage and imaging from above is described in “Factors Influencing Quantification of In Vivo Bioluminescence Imaging Application to Assessment of Pancreatic Islet Transplants”, J. Virostko et al., Molecular Imaging, Vol. 3, No. 4, pp. 333-342 (2004). Suspending the animal in a holder which is clamped onto a rotation stage is described in “Systems and Methods for Bioluminescent Computed Tomographic Reconstruction”, Wang et al., U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/791,140, Publication US2004/0249260. Placing the subject into a rotatable tube is described in “System and Method for Visualizing Three-dimensional Tumor Locations and Shape from Two-dimensional Bioluminescence Images”, D. Metaxas et al., U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/715,610, Publication WO/2007/032940; and in “Design of a Small Animal Multimodality Tomographer for X-Ray and Optical Coupling: Theory and experiments”, da Silva et al., Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research A, Vol. 571, Nos. 1-2, pp. 118-121, (2007). Employing a rotating mirror and a translating subject stage is described in “Multi-view imaging apparatus”, D. Nilson et al., U.S. Pat. No. 7,113,217. Employing a multiple mirror assembly that surrounds a portion of the subject to direct additional views to the camera system is described in “Systems and methods for in-vivo optical imaging and measurement”, R. Levenson and C. Hoyt, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/295,701, Publication US2006/0118742.
While systems of the types described in the just-mentioned publications and patents may have achieved certain advantages, each of them also exhibits one or more of the following disadvantages. The adjustable stage has a limited angular range thereby limiting the range of view angles. The animal holder obstructs the view for certain view angles. The human experimenter has limited access to the immediate environment around the animal. Significant manipulation of the animal is required to strap it down to prevent sliding on the adjustable stage, to suspend it in the holder or to load it into a tube in a desired posture. A physical surface to serve as a reference for a focal plane is not provided. A surface for the proximal location of a phosphor screen is not provided. The animal is not recumbent, hence it is subject to significant physiological stress. The imaging light path is different for every view angle, thereby requiring complex, expensive components to define the imaging light path. A multiple mirror assembly has a limited, discontinuous angular range, thereby limiting the range of view angles.
Imaging systems also are known that can obtain multiple views of an animal, comprised of one or more lens and camera systems mounted on a gantry that may be rotatable about the animal. For example, see “Method and system for free space optical tomography of diffuse media”, V. Ntziachristos and J. Ripoll, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/543,728 and U.S. Patent Application Publication 2006/0173354; and “Combined X-ray and Optical Tomographic Imaging System”, W. Yared, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/643,758 and U.S. Patent Application Publication 2007/0238957. However, such systems are significantly more complex and expensive compared to a single, stationary imaging light path common for all view angles and all imaging modes.
In addition, photoacoustic tomography systems are known for enabling photoacoustic tomography of animals, for example mice. An exemplary photoacoustic tomography system is described in “HYPR-spectral photoacoustic CT for preclinical imaging”, Kruger et al., Proc. SPIE, Vol. 7177, 71770F (2009). The system is comprised of an array of ultrasound sensors disposed in a bowl. The bowl has an optically transparent window in the bottom. In operation, the bowl is filled with an optically transparent acoustic coupling medium, such as a liquid or gel, an optically transparent membrane is placed at the top surface of the acoustic coupling medium, the animal is immobilized and placed on the membrane in a recumbent posture, pulsed light is provided through the window to the animal, the light is absorbed by endogenous and/or exogenous material in the animal, the material releases energy as ultrasound, the ultrasound is detected by the array of sensors, and a electronic system performs a tomographic reconstruction based on the detected ultrasound. Because the penetration depth of the light is limited by absorption and scatter in the animal, it is desirable to be able to position the animal in a variety of postures to access the various anatomical features of the animal. In known photoacoustic tomography systems, animals may be rotated manually about their craniocaudal axes to provide different viewing angles. However, direct immobilization of a recumbent animal onto a membrane is disadvantageous in that in known photoacoustic tomography systems a means is lacking to precisely control the craniocaudal rotation angle, and hence the view angle, of the animal, for example to +/−5 degree precision. Improved control of the view angle would improve the experimenter's ability to quantify photoacoustic data. For example, photoacoustic calibrations that depend on the tissue depth, and hence the animal posture, could be more precisely determined. Also, different photoacoustic tomographic sections from a series of different view angles could be precisely stitched together given precise knowledge of the view angle.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention not only provides all of the advantages previously described for directly immobilizing the animal in a recumbent posture on an optically transparent planar support and imaging the immobilized animal from above, below or from any suitable angle; but also provides unique features for adjusting the craniocaudal rotation angle and the view angle.
An apparatus in accordance with the invention is useful for imaging an animal having a craniocaudal axis. The apparatus may include an elongated member for supporting such an animal in a position with its craniocaudal axis transverse to an axis of elongation of the elongated member; means for forming the elongated member into an upwardly open, U-shaped loop, the loop being sized for receiving and engaging such an animal; means for moving the support member in a direction of the axis of elongation while maintaining the U-shaped loop, whereby movement of the support member applies torsion to such an animal so that it is rotated about its craniocaudal axis; and means for imaging such an animal at various angles of craniocaudal rotation. Imaging may be done from above, below or from any suitable angle.
A method in accordance with the invention is useful for imaging an animal having a craniocaudal axis. The method may include steps of providing an elongated member having an axis of elongation and longitudinally extending edges; forming the elongated member into an upwardly open, U-shaped loop, the loop being sized for receiving and engaging the animal; supporting the animal in the U-shaped loop with the craniocaudal axis transverse to the axis of elongation; moving the support member sequentially in a direction of the axis of elongation while maintaining the U-shaped loop, whereby torsion is applied to the animal so that it is rotated to various angles about the craniocaudal axis; and imaging the animal at various angles of craniocaudal rotation. Imaging may be done from above, below or from any suitable angle.
The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following more particular description of the embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
The elements of the drawings are not necessarily to scale relative to each other.
The invention now will be described in detail with particular reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, but it will be understood that variations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of the invention. The following is a detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, reference being made to the drawings in which the same reference numerals identify the same elements of structure in each of the several figures.
An example of a suitable material for flexible support film 302 is optically transparent polycarbonate with thickness in the range of 0.1 to 0.25 millimeters. For example, a suitable film is Bayer's Makrofol DE1-1, which is 0.005 inch thick and has a gloss finish on both sides. Such a film has a coefficient of friction sufficient to avoid substantial slippage when the film is used with hub diameters and mouse weights as previously discussed. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that other optically transparent films may be used without departing from the scope of the invention. A cyclo-olefin polymer film commercially known as Zeonor Film also has been found to be suitable. Polyester film is expected to work also. Polycarbonate and cyclo-olefin polymer films are preferable because of their low fluorescence. Films having thicknesses in the range of 0.005 inch to 0.010 inch have been found to work. Thicknesses somewhat outside this range would also work well, depending on the minimum bend radius of the material. The film should have a minimum bend radius less than or equal to the lesser of the hub diameter and the shaft diameter, and the shaft diameter could always be increased to be as large as the hub diameter as needed. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that support films or elements having patterns of perforations, or being formed from screen or fabric also could be used without departing from the scope of the invention, though such macroscopic structures in the support could interfere somewhat with optical and x-ray imaging.
The craniocaudal axis of animal 306 is approximately coaxial with the rounded bottom of U-shaped loop 304. Because flexible support film 302 is mechanically constrained by hubs 332 and 336, the semi-circumference of the rounded bottom of U-shaped loop 304 is approximately equal to the semi-girth of animal 306, so that recumbent animal 306 is in contact with flexible support film 302 approximately throughout the animal's semigirth. Communication or computer control system 26 controls stepper motor 352 to cause rotation of pulley 348, as indicated by arrow 316, thereby operating belt drive 314 and causing pulleys 344 and 346 to rotate. Because pulleys 344 and 346 are mechanically coupled to drive shafts 320A, 320B, respectively, drive shafts 320A, 320B are caused to rotate, as indicated by arrows 342E, 342F. Because flexible support film 302 is attached to drive shafts 320A, 320B and tightly wound, flexible support film 302 is caused to move through U-shaped loop 304 defined by the mechanical constraints of flexible support film 302. Because animal 306 is in contact with U-shaped loop 304 approximately throughout its semigirth, movement of flexible support film 302 applies torsion to animal 306, causing animal 306 to undergo craniocaudal rotation, as indicated by arrow 318.
Alternatively, steps 410A, 410B, 410C, and 410D may exclude steps 414, 416, and 418, and include only step 412. Alternatively, high-resolution phosphor screen may be fixed in place beneath animal 306 and steps 410A, 410B, 410C, and 410D may exclude steps 412, 414, and 418, and include only step 416.
Electronic imaging system 10 is configured for and captures as many different molecular images as desired, until electronic imaging system 10 is configured for the last molecular image in step 478 and captures the last image in step 472D. The different configurations of electronic imaging system 10 may involve selection of different excitation and emission wavelengths, toggling illumination on or off, and installation or removal of a second high-sensitivity phosphor screen or panel for radioactive isotope imaging.
Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the images acquired by the inventive apparatus and method may be employed in tomographic reconstruction of the contrast the animal presents in the corresponding imaging modes, such as X-ray mode, radioactive isotope mode, and optical imaging modes such as bright-field mode, fluorescence mode, luminescence mode.
Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the inventive apparatus and method are applicable to a photoacoustic modality wherein the torsional support apparatus 300 is suspended over a bowl in which an array of ultrasound sensors is disposed, the bowl has an optically transparent window in the bottom, in operation the bowl is filled with an optically transparent acoustic coupling medium, such as a liquid or gel, in acoustic contact with elongated, optically transparent, flexible support member or film 302, the animal is immobilized and placed in the upwardly open, U-shaped loop 304 in a recumbent posture, pulsed light is provided through the window to the animal, the light is absorbed by endogenous and/or exogenous material in the animal, the material releases energy as ultrasound, the ultrasound is detected by the array of sensors, and a electronic system performs a tomographic reconstruction based on the detected ultrasound. Because the penetration depth of the light is limited by absorption and scatter in the animal, the positioning of the animal in a variety of postures to access the various anatomical features of the animal is desirably enhanced by the improved control of the view angle enabled by the inventive apparatus and method to improve the experimenter's ability to quantify photoacoustic data. For example, photoacoustic calibrations that depend on the tissue depth, and hence the animal posture, may be more precisely determined. Also, different photoacoustic tomographic sections from a series of different view angles could be precisely stitched together given precise knowledge of the view angle.
The invention has been described in detail with particular reference to a presently preferred embodiment, but it will be understood that variations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of the invention. The presently disclosed embodiments are therefore considered in all respects to be illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is indicated by the appended claims, and all changes that come within the meaning and range of equivalents thereof are intended to be embraced therein.
PARTS LIST
- 10 electronic imaging system
- 12 light source
- 14 sample environment
- 16 optically transparent platen
- 18 fiber optics
- 20 optical compartment
- 22 mirror
- 24 lens/camera system
- 26 communication/computer control system
- 28 microfocus X-ray source
- 30 optically transparent planar animal support member
- 32 high resolution phosphor screen
- 34 high resolution phosphor sheet
- 36 arrow showing movement of 34, 36
- 38 access means or member
- 40 animal (mouse)
- 42 arrow
- 300 torsional support apparatus
- 302 elongated, optically transparent, flexible support member or film
- 302a, 302b longitudinal edges of 302
- 304 upwardly open, U-shaped loop of 302
- 306 recumbent animal in 304
- 308a, 308b, 308c hoses
- 310a, 310b, 310c gas ports
- 312a, 312b, 312c hose barbs
- 314 belt drive
- 316 arrow
- 318 arrow
- 320A, 320B drive shafts
- 324 posterior bearing mount
- 326 anterior bearing mount
- 328 base plate
- 330 window
- 332 posterior hub
- 334 posterior guide
- 336 anterior hub
- 338 anterior guide
- 340A, 340B imaginary vertical planes
- 342A, 342C, 342E arrows showing rotation of 320A
- 342B, 342D, 342F arrows showing rotation of 320B
- 344 pulley for 320A
- 346 pulley for 320B
- 348 drive pulley
- 350 drive belt
- 352 stepper motor
- 356 set screw for 344
- 360 cut-out
- 364 arrow showing movement of 306 into 304
- 368 anterior expandable tubing segment
- 400-478 method steps
- 500 focal plane
- 505A, 505B, 505C excitation light
- 510A, 510B, 510C emission light
- 511A, 511B, 511C emission light
- 512A, 512B, 512C emission light
- 550 X-rays
- 560 phosphorescent visible light
- 561 phosphorescent visible light
- 562 phosphorescent visible light
- 600-660 method steps
- 700 multiple animal torsional support apparatus
- 702A, 702B, 702C torsional support sections
- 704A, 704B, 704C elongated, optically transparent, flexible support members or films
- 706A, 706B, 706C animals
- 708A, 708B, 708C drive shafts
- 710A, 710B, 710C drive shafts
- 712A, 712B, 712C arrows showing rotation of 706A, 706B, 706C
- 714A, 714B, 714C emission light
- 716A, 716B, 718C emission light
- 718A, 718B, 718C emission light
- 720, 722, 724 phosphorescent visible light
- 800 multiple animal torsional support apparatus
- 802A, 802B, 802C, 802D torsional support sections
- 804A, 804B, 804C, 804D support films
- 806 anterior multiple bearing mount
- 808A, 808B, 808C, 808D posterior bearing mounts
- 810 base plate
- 812A, 812B, 812C, 812D windows
Claims
1. Apparatus for imaging an animal having a craniocaudal axis, comprising:
- an elongated member for supporting such an animal in a position with its craniocaudal axis transverse to an axis of elongation of the elongated member;
- means for forming the elongated member into an upwardly open, U-shaped loop, the loop being sized for receiving and engaging such an animal;
- means for moving the support member in a direction of the axis of elongation while maintaining the U-shaped loop, whereby movement of the support member applies torsion to such an animal so that it is rotated about its craniocaudal axis; and
- means for imaging such an animal at various angles of craniocaudal rotation.
2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the elongated member is made from an optically transparent, flexible film.
3. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the means for forming comprises:
- a pair of horizontally spaced, parallel drive shafts attached to the elongated member at locations spaced along the axis of elongation; and
- means for guiding the elongated member to form the U-shaped loop between the drive shafts.
4. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the elongated member has first and second longitudinally extending edges and the means for guiding comprises a pair of guides, one on each of the edges for forming the U-shaped loop.
5. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the U-shaped loop is tangent to a focal plane of the means for imaging.
6. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the means for moving comprises a drive for rotating the drive shafts.
7. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein each of the guides comprises a central passage, further comprising an opening on an upper side of the central passage of one guide for receiving a tail of such an animal and an anterior expandable tubing segment extending through the central passage of the other guide for engaging a head of such an animal.
8. Apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising means for introducing anesthesia into the anterior expandable tubing segment to anesthetize such an animal.
9. Apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a base plate, mounting means on the base plate for supporting the drive shafts and a window through the base plate through which light or radiation may pass toward the means for imaging.
10. Apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising an X-ray source above the U-shaped loop and a phosphor screen movable beneath the window to receive radiation passing through such an animal in the U-shaped loop.
11. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein there are a first plurality of elongated members, a corresponding second plurality of means for forming and a corresponding third plurality of means for moving, whereby a corresponding fourth plurality of such animals may be imaged.
12. Apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the pluralities are arranged side by side.
13. Apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the pluralities are arranged about a common center.
14. A method for imaging an animal having a craniocaudal axis, comprising:
- providing an elongated member having an axis of elongation and longitudinally extending edges;
- forming the elongated member into an upwardly open, U-shaped loop, the loop being sized for receiving and engaging the animal;
- supporting the animal in the U-shaped loop with the craniocaudal axis transverse to the axis of elongation;
- moving the support member sequentially in a direction of the axis of elongation while maintaining the U-shaped loop, whereby torsion is applied to the animal so that it is rotated to various angles about the craniocaudal axis; and
- imaging the animal at various angles of craniocaudal rotation.
15. A method according to claim 14, wherein the elongated member is made from an optically transparent, flexible film.
16. A method according to claim 14, wherein the U-shaped loop is tangent to a focal plane of the imaging.
17. A method according to claim 14, further comprising administering anesthesia to the animal supported in the U-shaped loop.
18. A method according to claim 14, further comprising guiding the longitudinal edges to maintain the U-shaped loop during movement of the elongated member.
19. A method according to claim 14, wherein the imaging provides an X-ray image of the animal.
20. A method according to claim 14, wherein the imaging provides a radioactive isotope image of the animal.
21. A method according to claim 14, wherein the imaging provides an optical image of the animal.
22. A method according to claim 14, wherein the imaging provides X-ray and optical images of the animal for each angle of craniocaudal rotation.
23. A method according to claim 14, wherein the imaging provides radioactive isotope and optical images of the animal for each angle of craniocaudal rotation.
24. A method according to claim 14, wherein the imaging provides X-ray and radioactive isotope images of the animal for each angle of craniocaudal rotation.
25. A method according to claim 14, wherein the imaging provides X-ray, radioactive isotope, and optical images of the animal for each angle of craniocaudal rotation.
Type: Application
Filed: Feb 24, 2014
Publication Date: Apr 16, 2015
Applicant: Bruker Biospin Corporation (Billerica, MA)
Inventors: Gilbert Feke (Durham, CT), Benjamin F. Geldhof (East Hartford, CT), Warren M. Leevy (West Haven, CT), Mark E. Bridges (Spencerport, NY), William E. McLaughlin (Guilford, CT), Rao Papineni (Branford, CT)
Application Number: 14/188,175
International Classification: A61B 6/00 (20060101); A61B 5/00 (20060101); A61M 5/00 (20060101); A61D 7/04 (20060101);