U-SPECT-II/CT™ and VECTor/CT™

U-SPECT-II/CT™ and VECTor/CT™
In vivo Dual and Triple Modality (SPECT/PET/CT) Animal Imaging
Patented pinhole collimator designs: up to 162 pinholes
Interchangeable and easy to mount collimators for
optimal resolution, sensitivity and FOV based on
the specific application
Patented
VECTor
technology
facilitates
simultaneous sub-mm SPECT/PET imaging
Full ring ultra-broadband detectors, high capture
efficiency and highest magnification factor result in
superior reconstructed resolution, speed and effective
sensitivity
Patented 3D focusing capability for nuclear microscopy
Dynamic 4D imaging with simultaneous ECG and
respiratory gating
Unmatched Ultra-High resolution SPECT and PET of
0.35mm and 0.8mm, respectively
Multiple SPECT isotopes can be imaged simultaneously. The VECTor supports simultaneous PET/SPECT
isotope aquisitions
Advanced true list mode acquisition allows retrospective multiprobe selection, multi-isotope imaging (from 20 keV to 511 keV) and unique dual
channel cardiac and respiratory gating
Proprietary single step SPECT/PET/CT imaging
Intrinsic SPECT/PET registration due to simultaneous
acquisition
Auto-fusion of CT images
Ultra fast 4D imaging reveals dynamic processes with
high time resolution
Sub-minute total body mouse SPECT/PET imaging
with enhanched spiral mode
Proprietary POSEM reconstruction with advanced
mathematical modeling results in highly quantitative
images, low noise and accurate resolution recovery
Advanced image processing and visualization software
Low maintenance due to stationary detector design
and the absence of rotating parts in the SPECT/PET
gantry
Standard image formats
Compatible with third party optical, X-ray CT and MRI
systems
The highest performance next generation preclinical SPECT
Simultaneous SPECT/PET breakthrough technology with unmatched performance
U-SPECT-II/CT™
Unprecedented in vivo details
Patented Pinhole SPECT Collimator Design
Superior system performance is in part achieved through new, patented
“Focused” multi-pinhole cylindrical collimators. A wide range of collimators is
available designed to meet specific ultra-high resolution and ultra-sensitive imaging requirements. These collimators are easily interchangeable to optimize the
system for your challenging research. Please note the outstanding resolution
achieved as demonstrated below by SPECT resolution phantoms and corresponding mouse and rat whole-body images acquired with the U-SPECT-II/CT system.
Optimal separation of projection data ensures maximum information content for
each detected photon in the patented MILabs collimator design.
0.35 mm
0.75
0.4
0.45
0.6
0.7 mm
mouse
0.5
1.5
0.8
0.9
1.2
rat
1.0
The resolution, sensitivity and FOV of the U-SPECT-II system depend on the selected collimator.
One can choose between several collimators based on the size of the animal to be scanned and the preferred resolution and sensitivity for the particular application. The table below gives an overview of the available collimators
today. In addition, MILabs can design and manufacture specific custom made collimators in close collaboration
with the user. All collimators have a precisely calibrated matrix in order to optimize image quality.
Collimator
Purpose
Pinhole size
(mm)
Reconstructed
resolution (mm)
Sensitivity
(cps/MBq)
Ultra High Sensitivity
Mouse (UHS-M)
Ultra-high sensitivity, low dose total
body and focused mouse imaging
1.0
<0.7
>3500
General Purpose Mouse
(GP-M)
General purpose total body and
focused mouse imaging
0.6
<0.45
>1500
Ultra High Resolution
Mouse (UHR-M)
Ultra high resolution total body and
focused mouse imaging
0.35
<0.35
>525
Ultra High Resolution
Rat and Mouse (UHR-RM)
High resolution total body and focused rat and mouse imaging
1.0
<0.85
>700
General Purpose Rat
and Mouse (GP-RM)
General purpose collimator for total
body and focused rat and mouse
imaging
1.5
<1.1
>1500
MILabs can design and manufacture dedicated additional collimators in collaboration with user
Ultra-large field-of-view stationary detectors for fast, dynamic,
high resolution imaging at low maintenance cost
U-SPECT-II/CT and VECTor/CT employ 3 Ultra-Large Stationary NaI(Tl) broadband detector arrays (595mm x
472mm each) with fully digital electronics. A typical magnification factor of 10:1 for mice further contributes to
the outstanding system resolution achieved with the MILabs U-SPECT-II system in contrast to rotational gantry
systems with typically a 5:1 magnification. The stationary detector array of the MILabs system also facilitates
ultra-fast, dynamic acquisitions, further extending the broad application functionality of the U-SPECT-II when
compared to rotating gantry systems that cannot perform high quality dynamic scans due to “camera dead-time”
experienced in rotational systems. It is also important to understand that due to the absence of rotating parts
in the SPECT/PET modalities the maintenance requirements for the U-SPECT-II/CT are significantly reduced.
Scanning Focus Acquisition Mode (SFM) for homogeneous
resolution over the whole body
Left
Top
Right
The U-SPECT-II is equipped with a unique, high precision XYZ translational animal bed that indexes the animal through the cylindrical collimator during acquisition. A patented user-friendly touchscreen graphical interface incorporates
pre-selection of the field-of-view with the aid of integrated optical cameras or
planar CT images. This unique set-up facilitates focusing of the pinholes on the
desired area of interest, while the acquisition computer automatically calculates
the XYZ bed travel for either a focused organ-specific or total-body acquisition.
This patented Scanning Focused Method (SFM) for localized or total-body animal
acquisitions results in ultra-high image quality in organs or whole-body data.
Therefore, in contrast with alternative rotating gantry microSPECT systems with
the maximum resolution only in the Central Field-of-View (CFOV) of the system, MILabs U-SPECT-II and VECTor with the unique XYZ translational bed and SFM, deliver
ultra-high resolution homogeneously even to the edge of the Field-of-View.
Unprecedented efficiency, accuracy and flexibility through
True List Mode (TLM) acquisition
MILabs U-SPECT-II and VECTor devices are equipped with true list-mode data acquisition. Position, energy and time for
each detected event as well as the time stamp of each physiologic event are stored. This allows the selection of virtually any number of energy windows. Retrospective gating is essential to accurately image diseased irregularly beating
hearts. Moreover, dual gating can be applied, while scan time and energy window settings can be optimized retrospectively.
TLM acquisition allows
• Retrospective selection of virtually unlimited number of energy windows
• Retrospective gating
• Easy scan time and dose planning
• Multi-isotope imaging
ED
5 mm
ES
Mouse heart 99mTc
Tetrofosmin
imaging allows to
quantify perfusion in
tiny parts of the heart
Unsurpassed performance in cardiac imaging: ultra-high resolution gated
imaging option allows for simultaneous molecular, functional and structural assessment of the heart in a single acquisition. Available in single
and multi-isotope mode. Retrospective gating is applied standardly and
guarantees dramatic image improvements over conventional gating.
7 mm
Excellent localization of 111In labeled antibodies within xenograft
6 mm
123I-FP-CIT
dopamine transporter image
of mouse brain with anatomical overlay
6 mm
10 mm
Nuclear microscopy with U-SPECT-II: mouse 99mTc DMSA kidney scan
Detailed uptake of 99mTc MDP
Fully integrated, low dose X-ray CT
U-SPECT-II
•
•
•
•
•
•
CT
•
•
•
•
•
X-ray tube: sealed and air-cooled tube with
continuously variable peak energy 20 - 65kV,
40W each, max tube current of 615mA
X-ray detector: 1280 x 1024 x 12 bit
digital X-ray camera
Voxel size (isotropic): 80µm (1024x1024x
1024pixels) or 160µm (512x512x512pixels)
Fast scanning: minimum scan time is less
than 40 seconds at 160µm pixel size and less
than 1.5 minutes at 80µm pixel size
Transaxial FOV is 82mm
Fully integrated easy to use acquisition software
Including scout scanning capability
Fast reconstruction software
Automatic, marker-free fusion of SPECT and CT 3D images
Software for image analysis and display
Wide range of data formats, including: BMP, TIFF, JPG, AVI, DICOM, NIFTI
VECTor/CT™
True Integrated Simultaneous SPECT/PET Imaging
with integrated X-ray CT option
The world’s first true simultaneous SPECT/PET preclinical imaging device utilizing both “focused” multi-pinhole
SPECT technology, as well as 162 “clustered” multi-pinhole collimators for PET and simultaneous SPECT/PET acquisition at the sub-mm resolution level. No other small animal imaging device can provide this unique technology combination, dramatically expanding the functionality of the base system.
VECTor enables sub-mm simultaneous pinhole imaging of singlephoton emitters (SPECT) and positron emitters (PET). This is realized with a novel collimation technology involving clusters of narrow
pinholes combined with broadband detectors and advanced image
reconstruction. VECTor is available as an upgrade to U-SPECT-II and
U-SPECT-II/CT. With VECTor, resolution of organ and tumor imaging with PET tracers compares favorably with traditional co-incidence PET and is very cost effective. When imaged simultaniously
with PET, SPECT resolution remains superiour at 0.5mm. By simply
replacing the collimator, the VECTor is turned into an uncompromised U-SPECT-II.
1.2 mm
1.5
1.0
0.7
0.9
0.8
18
F
PET and SPECT images simultaneously acquired with VECTor
PET
FDG
PET
FDG
SPECT
FP-CIT
SPECT
Tetrofosmin
SPECT
Sub-half mm SPECT
Highly Quantitative SPECT
Fast dynamic SPECT
Simultaneous SPECT and PET
Sub-mm PET
Quantitative PET
Traditional
Tri-Modality
Yes
No
No
No
No
No
Yes
VECTor
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Co-incidence
PET
No
No
No
No
No
No
Yes
Software
Intuitive and extremely user-friendly
Both the U-SPECT-II/CT and VECTor/CT are provided with proprietary
acquisition, reconstruction and fusion software from MILabs. The software is intuitive and extremely user-friendly; therefore imaging with a
U-SPECT-II/CT or VECTor/CT can typically be mastered by e.g. a technician or a Ph.D. student in a single day.
Various image post processing software packages such as PMOD can be
provided with the system.
VECTor generated image of 99mTc-HDP, 123I-NaI, 111In-pentetreotide
and 18F-FDG distributions. Courtesy of UMC Utrecht and Delft University of Technology.
Novel SPECT reconstruction algorithms
A novel iterative reconstruction algorithm, Pixel-based Ordered Subset Expectation Maximization (POSEM), is
used in SPECT and PET reconstruction. In comparison to traditional MLEM, POSEM can be operated at acceleration
factors that are often 20 to 40 times higher while results are much better than traditional OSEM. When the number
of subsets is set to one the algorithm automatically performs traditional MLEM. A new proprietary method was
recently added that makes the POSEM reconstruction extremely well suited for ultra-low dose imaging.
With data acquisition in True list-mode (TLM) multi-isotope imaging is possible with a virtually unlimited number of
energy channels that can be selected. During reconstruction, background windows can be defined to compensate
for spill-over effects. With the VECTor/CT, PET isotopes can even be imaged simultaneously with a combination of
SPECT isotopes, e.g. one PET tracer and three SPECT tracers.
Data Storage and Exchange
For storing the reconstructed images, an internet based DICOM database server is available which allows for easy
data organization, query select and retrieve images in a unified and user friendly interface. It is also possible to
send or receive images from a remote node.
Image data storage and handling is in full accordance with the DICOM3 standard.
Selected Accessories
Respiratory and cardiac gating
A intagrated BioVet system is available for extended animal monitoring, physiological event triggering and automatic
animal temperature regulation. There are three standard channels to monitor and trigger respiration, temperature
and ECG.
The system is provided with mouse and rat heater pads that easily fit in the mouse and rat beds for automatic control
of the body temperature of the animal. The BioVet system has two output channels to the imaging system hardware
for event synchronization via TTL allowing respiratory and cardiac gating.
Anesthesia
Animals can be anesthetized by injection or by using the optional
Univentor 400 gas anesthesia system with a built-in vaporizer and
flow meter for rodents. Precise automatic control of anesthetic and
air minimized anesthetic consumption. This anesthesia system comes with gas anesthesia cones that easily fit on the mouse and rat
beds.
Animal beds
Transparent beds for mice and rats as well as gas anesthesia cones are a standard
part of the system. The animal beds are heated with heater pads, easily accessed
and easily removed from the system for transfer to other imaging modalities such
as optical imaging devices, other CT scanners or MRI systems while maintaining
the animal’s position in the bed. These beds provide open access to the animal
during acquisition and continuous monitoring via an optical camera is possible.
The beds are MRI compatible. The system allows for the use of pathogen-free imaging cells enclosed around the animal for imaging immuno-compromised transgenic animals. A multi-mice bed for high-throughput scanning of four mice including
anesthesia cones is available. Custom beds can be manufactured.
System configurations and adaptability
Designed for field upgrades
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www.milabs.com