Equipment

The CBI continually improves existing and develops new advanced, non-conventional imaging techniques.

The 9.4 Tesla Bruker BioSpin BioSpec 94/20 USR is a horizontal bore imaging/spectroscopy system that gives us the capability to characterize novel contrast agents and scan live animals or tissue specimens up to 500 grams with an isotropic resolution of down to  25 μm.

The system is equipped with a variety of coils, including a cryogenically cooled mouse brain coil (Bruker CryoProbe). The system is equipped with a rodent isoflurane gas anesthesia system and physiologic monitoring system that can be used for image gating. The instrument can be used to scan various NMR nuclei (X-nuclei) including 1H, 23Na, 31P, 19F and 13C.

T1 and T2 anatomical scans are possible, as is the creation of parametric T1, T2 and T2* maps. The system is also capable of functional MRI (EPI), diffusion weighted (DWI) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), localized spectroscopy (STEAM and PRESS) for in vivo metabolite profile characterization, chemical-shift imaging, and perfusion imaging with Gd-based contrast agents.

These specifications allow investigators to visualize and quantify metabolites (MR spectroscopy), anatomical structures, tumor morphology, blood flow/vessels, fiber pathways, drug effects, brain activity and heart motion.  

The Toshiba Vantage Titan 3T clinical/large animal scanner allows researchers on the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus to conduct critical imaging studies on soft tissue throughout the human body, including the heart and the brain, alive preclinical models, tissue specimens and novel contrast agents 

With this scanner, we have unlimited opportunities to do dedicated research studies into multiple sclerosis, stroke, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and many other diseases, and develop specific MRI biomarkers for diagnosing and managing neurological diseases, as well as finding the best methods for using advanced MRI or MRS techniques in patients with a broad range of diseases and conditions in the most cost-effective manner.

The GE Discovery VCT Volume PET-CT scanner offers advanced volume coverage with thin-slice imaging, integrated with high-PET sensitivity, and high-PET spatial resolution, volume CT technology (dramatically reducing CT acquisition times) and dose, PET and CT quality control, CT attenuation correction, and the ability to image coronary arteries in as little as five seconds. 

This scanner offers numerous acquisition options including 3D static, mutli-static, multi-gated, dynamic, multi-dynamic histogram modes. The Discover VCT PET-CT scanner allows for large PET transaxial FOV at 70 cm.  PET-CT Motion Management reduces motion artifacts, and Inter-plane tungsten retractable septa for dynamic and absolute quantification studies.