Body Composition Analysis with minispec LF Series

Bruker's minispec Whole Body Composition Analyzer based on TD-NMR provides a precise method for measurement of lean tissue, fat and fluid in living mice and rats.

This body composition analyzer boasts a novel and striking key feature: Because the animal is carefully handled without using any anesthetics, a new standard for longitudinal studies has been established..

Since its first launch in the beginning of 2001, the minispec Live Mice Analyzer (LF50) has quickly gained market acceptance as a powerful, non-destructive and non-invasive mice analysis tool for characterizing, screening and mouse phenotyping in research laboratories. It has become the industrial standard for fat and lean measurement in live mice with installations in major pharmaceutical companies, diabetes and obesity research institutes and universities.

Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) methods are among the most useful non-destructive techniques of material analysis. Non-invasive examination of the body by means of NMR is extensive and has many useful applications, particularly with Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS). TD-NMR uses similar NMR technology, providing analysis of fat tissue, lean tissue and free fluid by the same physical selection rules that give rise to contrast in MRI. Tissue contrast is high between fat and muscle based on relative relaxation times.

Enables researchers to perform multiple measurements during the life of the animal. Animals can be measured even every day, and the method is ideal for longitudinal studies.

• Non Invasive and Non Destructive
• Quantitative method
• Rapid analysis: measurement takes less than 2 minutes, no sample preparation.
• Economical procedures:
  - no consumables
  - retain expensive lab animals for entire study
• Reduced animal stress
  - No need for anesthetics; no recovery time so minimal effect on metabolism
  - Animals are measured “as-is”
  - Allows more frequent testing, due to reduction of risks to animal health, even daily acquisitions
• Operator requires no special NMR skills
• Easy and intuitive minispec software
• Long-term reliable and problem-free operation
• Better accuracy and precision compared to DEXA (X-ray) method

• Maximum mass of mice:
  - Mouse systems: LF50 for mice up to 60 g
  - LF90II: rats up to 700 g; mice, organs up to 130 g;  biopsies 50 to …500 mg
  - LF110: rats up to 1000 g; mice, organs up to 130 g;  biopsies 50 to …500 mg
• Maximum inner diameter of the mice container: 48 mm
• Accuracy and precision: about 1% of total mass 
• Calibration with standards, with animals or according to special user requirements.
  
• Measurement frequency: 7.5 MHz (LF50), 6.2MHz (LF90) and 5.7 MHz (LF110)
• Alternatively to the standard system: horizontal access to the magnet
  
• User friendly interface for simple operation during measurement series.
  
• Microsoft Windows system for data acquisition combined with a Microsoft Access data base allowing safe data management without user labour effort.
  
• ISO 9001:2015 certified
• CE conformity

Discover all about the Whole Body Composition Analyzer

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