Bruker Minispec TD-NMR Analyzers - 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 live mice and rats. The key feature is: longitudinal studies become possible, because the animal is carefully handle without anesthesia.

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 tool for characterizing, screening and phenotyping mouse models 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.

the minispec Body Composition Analyzer is based on Time Domain NMR . It acquires and analyzes TD-NMR signals from all protons in the entire sample volume and can provide 3 components of interest: Fat, Free Body Fluid and Lean Tissue values. This Magnetic Resonance technology allows the researchers the opportunity to make multiple measurements during the life of the animal with the following benefits:

Rapid analysis: measurement takes less than 2 minutes; no sample preparation;

Economical method: no consumables, retain expensive lab animals for entire study;

LF50 for mice analyzes animals up to 60g ... 70g;

LF50H for mice analyzes animals up to 60g ... 70g;

LF90II for mice and rats analyzes animals up to ~ 800g;

LF110 for mice and rats analyzes animals even above > 1kg;

Reduced animal stress: no need for anesthetics; animals are measured "as-is";

Allows more frequent testing because of negligible risk to animal health;

Better accuracy and precision compared to DEXA (X-ray) method.