Frequently Asked Questions about measurement objects

• What kind of fat is measured by the EchoMRI™ instruments?
• Can EchoMRI™ measure visceral and subcutaneous fat separately?
• Can I measure fat in the liver? Can I measure fat in body tissues?
• What size of animals can be scanned?
• Can I scan monkeys, piglets, cats, or dogs?
• Can I scan a dead animal?
• Can I use a single EchoMRI™ system to scan both mice and rats?
• What size of samples can be scanned in EchoMRI™ 3-in-1 systems?
• Can the EchoMRI™ systems measure bone mineral mass?
• Can the EchoMRI™ systems measure cartilage mass or composition of joints?
• Can the EchoMRI™ systems measure composition of avian eggs?
• Can the EchoMRI™ systems measure hydration of animals and tissues?
• Can the EchoMRI™ systems measure temperature of animals?
• Can I use tags or microchips on animals with EchoMRI™?

Q. What kind of fat is measured?
A. The EchoMRI™ system measures total body fat, including every fat molecule in the body, such as fat in the brain, muscles, organs, bone marrow, intestines, blood lipids, and fatty acids.

^Top

Q. Can EchoMRI™ measure visceral and subcutaneous fat separately?
A. Our standard EchoMRI™ System does not distinguish between different types of fat and fat depositions at different sites in a body; instead, it measures total body fat. Some of our customers have successfully excised fat pads and immediately measured them using our device.
Please call Echo Medical Systems for more details at 281-492-0082 extension 5# for more information.

^Top

Q. Can I measure fat in the liver? Can I measure fat in body tissues?
A. Yes, you can. In 2005, we have launched the EchoMRI-3-in-1™ system that measures fat in live animals, ex-vivo tissue samples including liver, and biopsies. Please call for availability at 281-492-0082, extension 5#.

With the current EchoMRI-100™ system for mice weighing less than 100 grams, it is possible to measure fat in the liver or body tissues. In practice, please have in mind the following two facts pertinent to measurements done on animal body parts:

1. Measurement errors do not decrease with the mass of the sample proportionally to the mass, so relative errors are larger for smaller samples.
2. NMR relaxation properties of substances vary with temperature, particularly for fat. The EchoMRI™ system has technological features that reduce temperature dependence in the 30°-40°C range, and the errors in fact remain small down to about 25°C. However, at temperatures well below 18°C these errors become quite noticeable.

In the whole body EchoMRI™ systems, all fat will be measured in the body, including the liver and other organs and muscles. Some customers measure fat in the liver and other organs immediately after excision. In excised organs the system is sensitive to temperature and other changes in dead animals. Therefore, measuring closer to the time of excision is better.

^Top

Q. What size of animals can be scanned?
A. Body masses between 20g and 130g are recommended for EchoMRI-100™ and EchoMRI-130™ systems for mice. For body mass above 130g, EchoMRI-500™, EchoMRI-700™, or EchoMRI-900™ systems for rats are recommended. At this time, we have three versions of the machine for rats: for masses up to 500g, for up to 700g, and for up to 900g. We also have EchoMRI-3in1™ for body masses between 15g and 100g, tissue sample masses between 0.2g and 10g, and biopsy masses between 10mg and 500mg. Finally, for body masses between 60Kg and 250Kg there is EchoMRI-AH™ for adult humans.

Requests for custom-built sizes and specifications are welcome. Please call Echo Medical Systems Sales Department at 281-492-0082, extension 5#.

^Top

Q. Can I scan monkeys, piglets, cats, or dogs?
A. Yes, you can. Call Echo Medical Systems Sales Department at 281-492-0082, extension 5# for pricing and information regarding custom-built systems for different animals.

^Top

Q. Can I scan a dead animal?
A. Yes, if the animal is scanned soon after death (within several minutes of excision) and is still warm enough, or alternatively is warmed up to temperature above 30°C. It is important under all conditions that the tissues have not yet decayed significantly nor lost too much of the cellular water.

^Top

Q. Can I use a single EchoMRI™ system to scan both mice and rats?
A. We custom build a device that measures both mice and rats. Please call Echo Medical Systems Sales Department at 281-492-0082, extension 5# for more information regarding custom-built systems.

^Top

Q. What size of samples can be scanned in EchoMRI 3-in-1™ systems?
A. EchoMRI 3-in-1™ systems allow measuring live mice weighing 15 to 100 grams and enable researchers to perform tissue characterization in samples having weight from 0.2 to 10 grams as well as biopsies with weight between 10mg and 500mg.

^Top

Q. Can the EchoMRI™ systems measure bone mineral mass?
A. At this time, we do not recommend using our systems for bone analysis. However, we are willing to consult and/or recommend certain CT or DEXA methods for this purpose.

^Top

Q. Can the EchoMRI™ systems measure cartilage mass or composition of joints?
A. At this time, we do not recommend using our system for cartilage mass or joint composition analysis. However, we are willing to consult and/or recommend certain CT methods for this purpose.

^Top

Q. Can the EchoMRI™ system measure composition of avian eggs?
A. Yes. In fact, we currently do measurements to identify muscle (lean) mass in embryos in order to monitor development.

^Top

Q. Can the EchoMRI™ system measure hydration of animals and tissues?
A. Yes, in many cases we can do this, but please contact us for further details.

^Top

Q. Can the EchoMRI™ systems measure temperature of animals?
A. Yes, in many cases we can do this, but please contact us for further details.

^Top

Q. Can I use tags or microchips on animals with EchoMRI™?
A. Yes, this is not a problem. In fact, some customers are already using our equipment with animals containing metal tags and microchips (note that plastic tags will have absolutely no affect on the data produced). It is important to remember that there are two types of metal: one type is magnetic (i.e. steel or iron), and the other type is not magnetic (i.e. aluminum or copper). If the tagging device is metallic, but not magnetic, then there is no dramatic effect on the data or the subject whatsoever. However, if the device is indeed magnetic, there are two potential problems: 1) the strong magnetic attraction could potentially damage the subject, and 2) the magnetic field will be substantially disturbed, causing the data results to be potentially erroneous. In such cases, it is really a judgment call and the effect of the tagging device on the overall data produced will be dependent on the ize of the metallic object.

^Top