Frequently Asked Questions about comparisons of EchoMRI™ with other technologies

• What is the difference between measurements made by EchoMRI™ and DEXA? What is the difference between fat and lean measured by EchoMRI™ and fat and non-fat measured by DEXA?
• What are the differences between the Bruker small mice body composition analyzer that you sell and the EchoMRI™ system?
• How does EchoMRI™ technology compare with MicroCT?

Q. What is the difference between measurements made by EchoMRI™ and DEXA? What is the difference between fat and lean measured by EchoMRI™ and fat and non-fat measured by DEXA?
A. A major difference between DEXA (Dual Energy X-rays Absorptiometry) and NMR (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance) methods is that NMR receives un-obscured signals from all elements of a three-dimensional body, whereas DEXA calculates the amounts of fat and non-fat from a two-dimensional projection of a body, in which the bones obscure about 40% of the projected body area. Therefore, DEXA actually makes an educated guess on composition of the obscured parts of a body. This is the reason why results of DEXA measurements can vary significantly with changes in body posture.

Another important difference between DEXA and NMR is that, in addition to fat, NMR can also directly evaluate the amounts of lean tissue and free liquids, whereas DEXA distinguishes between just fat and non-fat.

The third important difference for measurements on live animals is that DEXA requires the animals to be sedated and rendered immobile, whereas NMR works well for fully alert animals whose motion needs only be restricted by mechanical means limiting their freedom of motion to some volume.

To see how EchoMRI™ compares to DEXA in more detail, please take a look at the following link:
5 Advantages of EchoMRI™ vs. DEXA

Q. What are the differences between the Bruker small mice body composition analyzer that you sell and the EchoMRI™ system?
A. There are several differences:

1. The hardware of Bruker small mice body composition analyzer (also known as Minispec LF-50) is produced by Bruker. The software is from Echo Medical Systems. Bruker and Echo Medical Systems are marketing and selling these systems together.
2. Bruker Minispec hardware is only for live animals up to 35 g. The EchoMRI™ systems for mice are suitable for sizes up to 100-130 g (New Zealand Obese Mice weight is 130 grams) and rats up to 1,200 grams.
3. The Bruker device requires holder temperature of 37° Centigrade. The EchoMRI™ system holder temperature is permitted to vary from room temperature to 40°C.
4. The Bruker Minispec system is calibrated to measure fat at 40° Centigrade vs. wide temperature range for the EchoMRI™ systems.

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Q. How does EchoMRI™ technology compare with MicroCT?
A. MicroCT analyzes three dimensional distributions and has the potential to measure fat content in every pixel. MicroCT is identifying volumes of pixels that are adipose tissue; then contours are drawn around the tissue. Thus, fat in muscle and blood are not being measured. The measurement is not made at the molecular level.

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