Specimen alignment and head holding system for imaging machines government rights

• US 20090245474A1
• Filed: 03/31/2008
• Published: 10/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ASI Instruments, Inc
• Original Assignee: Chris D. Chiodo
• Inventors: Chiodo, Chris D.
• Granted Patent: US 8,322,310 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 378/208
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/40 Animals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/055 involving electronic [EMR] or nuclear [NMR] magnetic resonance, e.g. magnetic resonance imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/704 Tables
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/0421 with immobilising means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4417 related to combined acquisition of different diagnostic modalities
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 80/00 Products made by additive manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/307 specially adapted for moving the sample relative to the MR system, e.g. spinning mechanisms, flow cells or means for positioning the sample inside a spectrometer

Abstract

A laboratory specimen, such as a mouse or rat, can be accurately and repeatedly imaged in an imaging machine, such as an MRI machine, when securely positioned on a specimen support bed. The support bed includes contours and accessories for centering a specimen on the support bed. One or more bite bars coact with a head clamp to accurately fix a specimen'"'"'s head in the same position time after time.

Claims

1. An apparatus for supporting an animal specimen, comprising:

an elongated bed having a front portion and a rear portion and having a longitudinally-extending body groove for receiving and aligning a specimen along said bed;

first and second front leg supports located on opposite sides of said body groove for receiving front legs of said specimen; and

first and second rear leg supports located on opposite sides of said body groove for receiving rear legs of said specimen.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said bed comprises first and second side walls, and wherein said front leg supports respectively extend forwardly along said side walls and wherein said rear leg supports respectively extend rearwardly along said side walls.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a mounting flange provided on said rear portion of said bed for mounting said bed to an animal holding system.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an aperture formed in said bed adjacent said body groove for passage of a monitor.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a pocket formed in said bed and dimensioned to receive a monitor.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said pocket is formed in at least one of said front and rear leg supports.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a channel extending along said bed for the passage of fluids along said bed.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said bed comprises a rear wall and wherein said channel extends along said rear portion of said bed and has an opening adjacent to said rear wall.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a gas port provided on said bed for delivering gas to a specimen.

10. An apparatus for supporting an animal specimen, comprising:

an elongated bed having a front portion and a rear portion;

a positioning apparatus provided on said front portion for anchoring a specimen'"'"'s head in a fixed position, said positioning apparatus comprising a first registration surface engageable with a specimen'"'"'s front teeth and a second registration surface engageable with a specimen'"'"'s rear teeth.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said first registration surface comprises a first bite bar.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said second registration surface comprises a second bite bar.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said second registration surface comprises a support for engaging a specimen'"'"'s molars.

14. A specimen support, comprising:

a longitudinally-extending elongated bed having a front portion and a rear portion;

a head clamp, adjustable about said front portion of said bed for engaging a specimen'"'"'s head; and

a ported block provided on said front portion of said bed and defining a gas flowpath in fluid communication with said head clamp.

15. The support of claim 14, wherein said head clamp further comprises a gas port fluidly communicating with said ported block.

16. The support of claim 14, wherein said gas flowpath comprises first and second anesthesia gas exhaust ports.

17. The support of claim 14, further comprising at least one bite bar coupled to said front portion of said bed and wherein said gas flowpath is located adjacent to said bite bar.

18. The support of claim 14, wherein said ported block comprises a ported manifold block.

19. A specimen support, comprising:

a longitudinally-extending elongated bed having a front portion and a rear portion;

a bite bar provided on said front portion; and

a head clamp adjustable about said front portion, said head clamp having an arched recess movable toward and away from said bite bar for centering a specimen'"'"'s head on said bite bar.

20. The specimen support of claim 19, further comprising a specimen retainer removably mountable to said elongated bed and having an arched shape to conform to a specimen.

21. The specimen support of claim 20, further comprising an imaging coil mounted to said specimen retainer.

22. The specimen support of claim 20, wherein said specimen retainer is resiliently mountable and demountable on said elongated bed.

23. A specimen alignment system, comprising:

an upper specimen alignment bed for holding a specimen; and

a lower instrumentation support platform coupled to said upper specimen alignment bed for holding monitors for monitoring a specimen.

24. The system of claim 23, further comprising a fluid flow path located between the upper specimen alignment bed and the lower instrumentation support platform.