World’s only full-featured functional ultrasound for imaging brain activity
-
Key Features
- Real-time – Live imaging
- High resolution – 100µm spatial resolution or 5µm using Ultrasound Localisation Microscopy (ULM) option
- 3D structural imaging – 2D or 3D functional imaging
- Probe range – Optimised for specific animal models (mobile & fixed head)
- Low maintenance – Minimal running costs
- Compatible – Diverse animal models & multimodal experiments
- Compact – Portable, mobile station that fits under a lab bench
Functional ultrasound is an ideal technology for non-invasive high-resolution imaging of brain function and vasculature and researching disorders such as Stroke, Alzheimers Disease and Epilepsy. It supports research in fields such as neuropsychology, neurophysiology, pharmacology etc. fUS offers an alternative to fMRI, with the advantage that it can be used on awake/mobile animals. In fUS this is achieved by measuring the increase in RBC number due to vascular dilation (increased blood flow), which can be directly related to increased O2 usage.
The Iconeus One is the only functional ultrasound system designed specifically for neuroscientists, providing high-sensitivity, high-resolution brain imaging of rodents and other small animals. It can also be used on larger animals using a cranial window. The system’s scanning platform incorporates a high-precision stage that can move in three dimensions and rotate through 360° for maximum flexibility brain scanning.
The ultrasound probes used with the Iconeus One are ultra-sensitive and light enough for use in mobile configurations as well. A range of probes are available depending on the animal model or application you are working with.
The entire system, including hardware and integrated software, is straightforward to use e.g. a complete dataset can be acquired with a single click. Data analysis is also easy, with the ability to detect subtle changes in neuron activation at the sub-mm scale, allowing imaging of the brain at the finest detail. From here, you can construct amazingly detailed 3D models of brain vasculature.
Where even greater detail is required, you can use Ultrasound Localised Microscopy (ULM) which tracks injected microbubbles, allowing the finest blood vessels to be imaged as well as providing more information on blood flow and distinguishes between different types of blood vessels.
Iconeus One can be used with animals in modes including:
- Anaesthetised
- Awake and head-fixed
- Awake and freely-moving
Configurations
 |  |  |
||
| Hardware | ||||
| Software | ||||
| Service | ||||
Applications
The Iconeus One functional ultrasound can be used for studies such as:
- Clinical research – building on existing preclinical research expertise
- Neuropharmacology e.g. studying the effects of pharmacological agents on the brain, acting as a complement to behavioural and fMRI studies
- Vascular imaging e.g. visualise neurovascular structures in great detail
- Resting state functional connectivity – investigate brain disorders by looking at intrinsic brain connectivity
- Functional neuroimaging e.g. mapping the brains response to external electrical, mechanical, visual or auditory stimuli
-
Super Resolution Brain Imaging
High resolution vascular map of the mouse brain (approx. -2.30 mm from Bregma) obtained with ULM. The image was reconstructed from a 5 min recording, following intravenous injection of a single bolus of microbubbles.