Method and apparatus for multi-modal imaging

Abstract

A method and apparatus for imaging a subject animal. The method comprises the steps of treating the animal with an x-ray contrast agent and an imaging agent; supporting the animal in an immobilized state on a support member; acquiring an x-ray anatomical image of the animal; acquiring an optical, dark-field image of the animal; and registering the x-ray anatomical image and the optical image, whereby features of the optical image can be observed in relation to features of the anatomical image.

1 . A method of imaging a subject animal, comprising:
 treating the animal with an x-ray contrast agent and an optical imaging agent;   supporting the animal in an immobilized state on a support member;   providing a phosphor plate adapted to be disposed proximate the support member when capturing a first image;   with the phosphor plate disposed proximate the support member, imaging the immobilized animal in a first imaging mode to capture the first image, the first imaging mode being an x-ray mode;   removing the phosphor plate from proximate the support member, after capturing the first image and while the object remains immobilized on the support member; and   with the phosphor plate removed from proximate the support member, imaging the immobilized animal in a second imaging mode to capture a second image, the second imaging mode being an optical dark-field mode.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of generating a third image by merging the first and second images, whereby features of the second image can be observed in relation to features of the first image. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the x-ray contrast agent and the optical imaging agent are administered simultaneously to the animal. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the x-ray contrast agent and the optical imaging agent are administered sequentially to the animal. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the optical, dark-field image is a fluorescence image. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the x-ray anatomical image and the optical, dark-field image are acquired using a common, shared focal plane. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the x-ray contrast agent is targeted and the optical imaging agent is non-targeted. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the x-ray contrast agent is non-targeted and the optical imaging agent is targeted. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein both the x-ray contrast agent and the optical imaging agent are targeted. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein both the x-ray contrast agent and the optical imaging agent are non-targeted. 
     
     
         11 . A method of imaging a subject animal, comprising:
 treating the animal with an x-ray contrast agent and an optical imaging agent;   supporting the animal in an immobilized state on a support member;   providing a phosphor plate movable relative to the support member, while the object remains immobilized on the support member, between a first position wherein the phosphor plate is in optical registration with the support member and a second position wherein the phosphor plate is not in optical registration with the support member;   capturing an x-ray image of the immobilized animal when the phosphor plate in disposed in the first position; and   capturing an optical dark-field image of the immobilized animal when the phosphor plate in disposed in the second position.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 generating a third image by merging the first and second images, whereby features of the second image can be observed in relation to features of the first image; and   displaying, transmitting, processing, or printing, the third image.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the x-ray anatomical image and the optical, dark-field image are acquired using a common, shared focal plane. 
     
     
         14 . An apparatus for imaging a subject animal, comprising:
 first imaging means for imaging such an animal in a first imaging mode to capture a first image, the first imaging mode being selected from the group: x-ray mode and radio isotope mode;   second imaging means for imaging such an animal in a second imaging mode that uses light from the immobilized animal to capture a second image, the second imaging mode being selected from the group: bright-field imaging mode and dark-field imaging mode;   a support stage, fixedly mounted in the apparatus, for receiving such an animal in an immobilized state such that the animal is immobilized in the apparatus during imaging by the first and second imaging means without movement of the animal from the support stage; and   a movable phosphor plate to transduce ionizing radiation from the first imaging means to visible light, the phosphor plate being mounted to be moved, while the object remains immobilized on the support member, between a first position proximate the support stage during capture of the first image and a second position not proximate the support stage during capture of the second image.   
     
     
         15 . A method for imaging a subject animal, comprising:
 providing a fixed support stage;   receiving the animal on the support stage in an immobilized state;   imaging the immobilized animal on the support stage in a first imaging mode to capture a first image, the first imaging mode being selected from the group: x-ray mode and radio isotope mode;   without moving the animal or the support stage, imaging the animal on the support stage in a second imaging mode that uses light from the immobilized animal to capture a second image, the second imaging mode being selected from the group: bright-field imaging mode and dark-field imaging mode;   providing a movable phosphor plate to transduce ionizing radiation from the first imaging means to visible light; and   moving the phosphor plate, while the object remains immobilized on the support member, between a first position proximate the support stage during capture of the first image and a second position not proximate the support stage during capture of the second image.   
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15 , further comprising:
 treating the animal with an x-ray contrast agent and an optical imaging agent; and   registering the first image with the second image, whereby features of the second image may be observed in relation to features of the first image.   
     
     
         17 . A method of imaging a subject animal, comprising:
 supporting the animal in an immobilized state on a support member;   providing a phosphor plate movable relative to the support member, while the object remains immobilized on the support member, between a first position wherein the phosphor plate is in optical registration with the support member and a second position wherein the phosphor plate is not in optical registration with the support member;   capturing a first image of the immobilized animal when the phosphor plate in disposed in the first position, the first image being captured using an imaging mode selected from the group: x-ray mode and radio isotope mode; and   capturing a second image of the immobilized animal when the phosphor plate in disposed in the second position, the second image being captured using an imaging mode selected from the group: bright-field imaging mode and dark-field imaging mode.