New U-SPECT and U-CT technology

Several recent publications in peer reviewed journals (e.g. [1-4]) have shown that the U-SPECT technology offers sub-half-mm and sub-half-minute resolution imaging of radiolabeled molecules. In this newsletter we emphasize the versatility of the new MILabs U-SPECT-II system, originating from its basic design with static pinhole detectors, robotic animal positioning and intelligent image reconstruction software.

Quantifying biological function in subcompartments of mouse organs

The static detector setup provides superior stability and the flexibility to perform dynamic studies with arbitrary short time frames, contrary to standard (micro) SPECT systems. Collimation is achieved with 75 gold micro pinholes in the cavity wall of a cylinder. Sensitivity and quantum yield is maximized by focusing all pinholes to the selected area of interest. Resolution is maximized by using extreme pinhole magnification factors. Together this yields an ultra-high resolution of 0.35 mm in three dimensions. For the first time science has the ability to quantify biological function in subcompartments of rodent organs in vivo! Our new website  presents dynamic heart and brain studies showing exciting details within tiny mouse organs, e.g. tracer uptake in papillary muscles in the heart and receptors in brain structures smaller than 0.4 mm. This surpasses anything that can be obtained with micro-PET and opens many new horizons for preclinical research.

From organ to total body imaging

For extended field-of-view imaging U-SPECT-II is provided with a robotic system and advanced navigation software that enables to select any field-of-view up to full rat body size. The animal is stepped in 3 dimensions through the focus area. In each step information of another body part will be collected. This automated procedure is simple and completely intuitive. The operator selects the area of interest on a touch-screen that displays web-cam images of the animal from three directions where after a fully automated step and shoot procedure is executed.

Highly detailed images

Intelligent reconstruction software uses all signals (from all the steps) together in a single full 3D image reconstruction procedure. This squeezes maximum information content out of each acquisition and results in an unsurpassed ultra-high resolution for single organ and full body images!

Mouse kidney slices, Tc-99m DMSA-scan

Multiple isotopes, more molecules

U-SPECT’s well known ultra-high resolution capabilities for I-123 and Tc-99m can be readily extrapolated to difficult isotopes such as In-111 (169 and 250 keV peaks) and I-125 (27-35 keV) and to combinations of various isotopes. Today, for many important isotopes, U-SPECT-II users are able to create images with sub-half-millimeter resolution. Furthermore, current research at MILabs proves that we soon can go beyond above-mentioned figures for certain applications.

Please feel welcome to visit us at the SNM in New Orleans

MILabs will set other new standards in preclinical imaging, to be shown at the Society of Nuclear Medicine Congress in New Orleans. We will be delighted to share these results with you at our booth at the upcoming SNM. You are cordially invited to discuss the importance of such progress and which steps should be taken next. MILabs puts great emphasis on research collaboration as a driver for next generation systems. Please ask our representatives for more information or contact us directly at info@milabs.com.

With best regards, and looking forward to see you at SNM!

Your MILabs team

References

1. B. Vastenhouw, F. van der Have, A.J.A. van der Linden et al. “Movies of dopamine transporter occupancy with ultra-high resolution focusing pinhole SPECT”, Molecular Psychiatry, 2007.

2. F.J. Beekman and F. van der Have. “The Pinhole: gateway to ultra-high resolution three-dimensional radionuclide imaging”, Eur. J. Nucl. Med. Mol. Im, 4(2):151-61, 2007.

3. B. Vastenhouw and F.J. Beekman, “Total Body Murine Imaging with the U-SPECT-I”. J. Nucl. Med., 48(3):487-493, 2007.

4. F.J. Beekman, F. van der Have, B. Vastenhouw et al, “U-SPECT-I: A novel system for submillimeter-resolution tomography with radiolabeled molecules in mice”, J. Nucl. Med., vol. 46, pp. 1194-1200, 2005.