In May 2024, a Bruker Skyscan 1276 Micro Computed Tomography (microCT) scanner was installed in CAMI. The Skyscan 1276 spans the range of capabilities from rapid in vivo imaging to high resolution specimen imaging. Its slip ring enables rapid imaging with scan times as low as 3.9 seconds, which reduces radiation dose and expands the options for longitudinal studies. At the other end of the spectrum, the Skyscan has variable magnification for scanning specimens down to 6 micron resolution. For in vivo studies, the Skyscan has respiratory and cardiac gating capabilities to account for motion caused by breathing and heartbeat, respectively. The system is equipped with exchangeable hardware filters that will significantly improve the quality and detail with which we can image implanted devices, a major need in NU’s biomedical community. The Skyscan has a flexible array of animal beds and can accommodate animals of up to 450g. Furthermore, the Skyscan animal handling system is compatible with the Bruker MRI systems, enabling multimodality MRI/CT studies.

In addition to biomedical studies, CAMI welcomes any projects that may benefit from nondestructive CT imaging, including materials science, archeology, comparative anatomy, and more.