High Resolution In-Vivo Coronary Imaging in Mice using Computed Tomography

• Applicant: Dr. Stefan Sawall
• Subject Area: Medical Physics, Biomedical Technology
• Term: from 2014 to 2018
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 259066460

Within the last decade micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) has emerged as fundamental imaging modality in preclinical research. The achievable spatial resolution in in-vivo experiments, currently up to 80 µm, is for instance limited by the used detectors and x-ray sources. The resulting limitations, however, prohibit the visualization of small structures and vessels in the mouse heart particularly with regard to coronary arteries. As a consequence the evaluation of cardiac diseases in a mouse model is not feasible. Of particular interest are cardiac pathologies like the coronary artery disease (CAD). Visualization of the coronary arteries as known from clinical computed tomography has not been achieved in mice yet. This project therefore aims to develop and design a gantry-based CT-system which provides the required spatial and temporal resolution to acquire the coronary arteries of mice in-vivo. The system is based on a clinical gantry which allows for the mounting of a large flat detector and still provides the necessary distance between source and detector to achieve the desired spatial resolution. Image reconstruction shall be performed using reconstruction algorithms that allow for an adequate noise level at minimal dose and allow for longitudinal studies. These algorithms will be adapted and modified to match the requirements of the new system. The final capabilities of the system, especially spatial resolution, will be verified using phantom studies. Furthermore, healthy wildtype mice and such with known cardiac pathologies shall be examined in the new system to illustrate its capabilities in terms of temporal and in-vivo spatial resolution. The realization of this project will significantly increase preclinical imaging in general and the research of cardiac diseases in mouse models in particular.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• Participating Person: Dr. Jan Kuntz