Preclinical Imaging Multimodality Software Module Developed

Software and accessory items have been designed to enable the direct coregistration of images from multiple preclinical imaging modalities.

Caliper Life Sciences, Inc. (Hopkinton, MA, USA), a provider of tools and services for drug discovery, life sciences research, and molecular diagnostics, introduced this toolkit, comprising the new Living Image multimodality software module and the Mouse Imaging Shuttle. The technology provides for integration of data from Caliper's IVIS (in vivo imaging system) optical imaging systems with data from Caliper's Quantum FX micro-computed tomography (CT) as well as data from third-party microCT, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), positron emission tomography (PET), and single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) instruments. Caliper provides a unique level of support by offering biologists a complete range of coregistration tools without the need for complex third-party software.

Coregistration allows researchers to overlay images from multiple imaging modalities, providing comprehensive insight into the molecular and anatomic features of an animal and its biology. For example, optical imaging data, which may be used to identify and quantify tumor burden at the molecular level, can be integrated with microCT data, which provides complementary anatomic detail and morphologic quantification.

With the Living Image Multi-Modality Software Module, researchers can directly import data from preclinical microCT, MRI, PET and SPECT into the Living Image software environment for combination with three-dimensional (3D) bioluminescence and fluorescence images from an IVIS Spectrum optical imaging system. The software contains sophisticated visualization features, and the Mouse Imaging Shuttle immobilizes the animal for transport between the different systems to enable high-quality coregistration. The multimodality kit has been optimized for use with Caliper's IVIS Spectrum and Quantum FX microCT imaging systems to enable comprehensive longitudinal imaging of a single animal over multiple time points without harming the subject. Living Image software is now distinctively capable of processing quantitative, functional optical data and integrating it with the anatomic views familiar to clinicians.

"Caliper's in vivo imaging solutions serve as a bridge between the laboratory and the clinic," said Kevin Hrusovsky, president and chief executive officer, Caliper Life Sciences. "Allowing researchers to layer images from a variety of imaging modalities enables a more a complete view of disease progression to help understand a compound's therapeutic potential sooner and progress drug candidates to clinical trials faster. Caliper is leading the market with our ability to not only generate extremely high quality 3D optical data and microCT images, but also to integrate images across a wide variety of platforms. This new coregistration toolkit is another component of our expansion strategy to address the [US]$500M preclinical imaging market."

Related Links:
Caliper Life Sciences