Micro-CT

Bone and skeletal analysis (preclinical and ex vivo)

• Trabecular and cortical morphometry (2D/3D) and densitometry.
• Midshaft analyses of long bones.
• Callus quantification in fracture healing models.
• Defect healing and bone remodelling
• 3D visualization and quantification of bone-implant interfaces (bone-implant contact, peri-implant bone).

Body Composition (Fat / Lean / Bones) in Small Animal Model

• Quantification of abdominal subcutaneous and visceral fat fractions in the mouse model.
• High-resolution 3D total body composition (bone, fat, lean) - analogous to DXA, but 3D and higher resolution.
• Quantitative limb cross-sections (bones, muscles, fat, skin).

Soft tissues, calcifications and contrast-enhanced imaging

• Quantification of soft tissue calcifications (organs, vessels, plaques).
• Contrast-enhanced imaging of parenchymal organs, vessels and tumors/metastases (protocol-dependent; in vivo/ex vivo).
• Lung imaging and structural analysis in rodents.
• Measurement and 3D representation of complex structures (e.g. cochlea, ear canal).

Material analysis and high-density samples

• Non-destructive microstructure characterization of biomaterials, geological and archaeological samples as well as technical components.
• Porosity, texture, internal defects, mineral distribution, and quantitative shape parameters.
• High-resolution image data generation for images and supplementary material.
  

Our platforms are optimized for different sample sizes, densities, and applications. Key Specifications (Typical Ranges):

Scanco vivaCT 40 (in vivo Kleintier; 2009)

• Voltage: 30-70 kV; anode current up to 177 μA
• FOV up to 39 mm; scan length up to 14.5 cm
• Matrix: 512×512 to 2k×2k
• Resolution: 10.5-90 μm
• Anaesthesia/Monitoring and external respiratory gating

Scanco XtremeCT‑II (HR‑pQCT Human Research; 2015)

• Voltage: 62 kV; Anode current 1.5 mA
• FOV 13.9 cm; scan length up to 20 cm
• Matrix: 512×512 to 7k×7k
• Resolution: 30.5-180 μm
• Scan time: ~2 min (patient protocol), ~6 min (High-Res Ex vivo/material)
• Effective dose: <5 μSv per measurement (ICRP 91)

Scanco µCT 100 HE (High‑Density; 2025)

• Voltage: 30-130 kV; anode current up to 300 μA
• FOV up to 100 mm; scan length up to 14.5 cm
• Matrix: 512×512 to 6k×6k
• Resolution: 1.5-50 μm
  

• Scanco Medical Software Suite (acquisition, reconstruction, standard analysis).
• μ finite element analysis (μFEA) tools (Scanco Medical) for biomechanical modeling.
• Advanced image analysis with ImageJ and Analyze (no Amira).
• Advanced/roadmap: AI-powered segmentation, automated scoring, multimodal 2D/3D registration, texture-based mineral mapping (under development).
• Data export as DICOM and TIFF (other formats as required).
  

1) Consulting & Study Design - Define objectives, sample properties, resolution, endpoints, and reporting.
2) Protocol setup - scan parameters, calibration/phantoms (if required), segmentation strategy.
3) Scans - usually by facility personnel; self-service after training possible on a project-specific basis.
4) Reconstruction & QC - Reconstruction, Artifact Checks, ggf. Motion-Grading.
5) Quantitative evaluation & report - standardized morphometry/densitometry; optional μFEA.
6) Handover - records and reports on agreed process; Export (DICOM/TIFF) supported.

We offer training of new working groups, protocol-specific training as well as collaborative support for third-party funding applications and method development. External academic and industrial collaborations are possible according to capacity.

The following hourly rates apply to the use of the Core Facility resources. Billing is based on the respective usage category.