This is a selection of the key Optiscan Imaging publications. For further publication enquiries, please contact support@optiscan.com.

Think Outside the Mouse-in-a-Box: Redefining Research Imaging

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In the world of preclinical research, traditional methods often dictate a static, linear approach to discovery. But what if researchers could move beyond the confines of conventional imaging systems? Optiscan’s ViewnVivo® system challenges the status quo, empowering scientists to "Think Outside the Mouse in a Box" and embrace a dynamic, real-time paradigm.

The Limitations of the Box

Traditional imaging systems rely on static methods that require sacrificing animals to obtain tissue samples, leading to fragmented insights from isolated moments in time. While these systems can reveal broad trends, they often fall short when it comes to delivering the granular, real-time cellular insights needed for cutting-edge research.

Mouse-in-a-box systems can provide whole-animal imaging, but their resolution is limited, leaving researchers to rely on complementary tools for deeper, microscopic understanding. On the other hand, newer technologies like multiphoton microscopy offer high-resolution imaging but require invasive manipulation and are largely restricted to small animals.

Optiscan’s Vision: Real-Time Imaging Without Compromise

ViewnVivo® breaks through these limitations. As the only miniaturized confocal endomicroscope offering live, real-time imaging at the cellular level, it introduces unparalleled flexibility to preclinical researchers. Researchers can now observe dynamic biological processes in their natural environment without the need for tissue harvesting or sacrificing animals at every time point.

By reducing reliance on static imaging and embracing real-time capabilities, ViewnVivo® enables researchers to:

  • Conduct longitudinal studies with fewer animals, aligning with ethical research standards.
  • Save significant costs associated with animal procurement, housing, and maintenance.
  • Visualize biological changes in vivo, capturing data in context as it unfolds.

Redefining What’s Possible

Unlike benchtop microscopes, which require researchers to extract and process tissues, ViewnVivo’s portability allows imaging to occur directly inside the animal. Its blue 488nm laser offers a broad excitation spectrum, making it compatible with a wide range of fluorophores. While competitors rely on bulky, multi-laser setups, ViewnVivo® delivers similar functionality in a portable compact design.

Imagine tracking the progression of a tumor in a mouse model or observing cellular responses to a drug in real time. ViewnVivo® provides the means to visualize these processes without disrupting their natural state, offering insights that static methods simply cannot achieve.

A Paradigm Shift for Ethical and Cost-Effective Research

ViewnVivo® embodies a shift toward more ethical, efficient research practices. By minimizing animal use and refining study designs, it supports the 3Rs framework: Replace, Reduce, and Refine. This commitment to ethical innovation resonates particularly strongly in regions like the EU, where regulatory focus on ethical research is increasing.

Thinking Outside the Box

Optiscan’s approach redefines imaging by bridging the gap between macroscopic and microscopic systems. It challenges researchers to think beyond conventional constraints, enabling studies that are not only more efficient but also more insightful.

Whether imaging a mouse, a large animal, or an organoid, ViewnVivo® adapts to diverse research needs, paving the way for breakthroughs in oncology, drug discovery, and beyond.

The future of research imaging doesn’t fit inside a box—it lives in the dynamic, real-time world enabled by Optiscan. Are you ready to think outside the box?

 

FAQs:

1. What makes Optiscan’s ViewnVivo® system different from traditional imaging methods?


Optiscan’s ViewnVivo® is a miniaturized confocal laser endomicroscope that enables live, real-time imaging at the cellular level. Unlike traditional methods that rely on static imaging and tissue harvesting, ViewnVivo® allows researchers to observe dynamic biological processes in vivo, providing unparalleled flexibility, accuracy, and context without sacrificing animals at every time point.

2. How does ViewnVivo® support ethical research practices?


ViewnVivo® aligns with the 3Rs framework (Replace, Reduce, Refine) by minimizing the need for animal use in research. Its ability to conduct longitudinal studies with fewer animals and reduce the need for invasive procedures makes it a highly ethical and cost-effective choice for preclinical studies.

3. What are the advantages of using ViewnVivo® over other imaging technologies like whole-animal imaging or multiphoton microscopy?


While some imaging systems can provide whole-animal imaging, these lack the resolution needed for cellular-level insights. Multiphoton microscopy offers high resolution imaging but is invasive and restricted to smaller animals. ViewnVivo® bridges the gap by offering non-invasive, real-time cellular imaging in a portable, compact design compatible with a wide range of research models, including small animal models, large animals or organoids.

4. What types of studies and applications is ViewnVivo® best suited for?


ViewnVivo® excels in oncology, drug discovery, and translational research. It is ideal for tracking tumor progression, observing drug responses, and visualizing cellular-level changes in real-time, whether in small animal models, large animals, or organoids.

5. How does ViewnVivo® improve cost-efficiency in research?


By reducing reliance on animal procurement, housing, and maintenance, as well as minimizing the need for tissue harvesting, histopathology, and external imaging setups, ViewnVivo® significantly lowers research costs. Its ability to capture real-time, in-context data reduces redundancy and streamlines workflows, enabling faster, more cost-effective outcomes.