Contract for the Supply and Installation of a Preclinical Ultrasound Imaging System to the University of Birmingham

The University of Birmingham invites tenders for supply of an ultrasound imaging system to image small preclinical disease models with high frame rates to accurately image small mobile structures with fast frequency cyclic changes. The equipment will be used for echocardiography and imaging of tissue structure and fluid (blood) flow, also in other organs. General characteristics A workstation needs to fit the footprint of the existing, obsolete system (VisualSonics, Vevo 2100). This equipment will be traded in as part of the purchase. It will be a stand-alone system. Specification i. Imaging station 1) Capabilities for carrying out ultrasound imaging in small preclinical models in the Biomedical Services Unit 2) Capabilities for using high frequency ultrasound (>40 MHz) to image small structures (approx. 1 - 10 mm) dynamically at high resolution in vivo, with the ability to upgrade to higher frequencies (~ 70 MHz) 3) Visualization of images in real time on screen 4) Ability to monitor physiological parameters (ECG, respiratory rate, core temperature) 5) Possibility to move platform around easily 6) Customizable touch screen controls during the image acquisition 7) Ability to attach more than one transducer to the system at a time to allow for quick change between analysis programmes ii. Data analysis 8) Software platform that allows for on-line and off-line data analysis, with ability to upgrade to multiple users; compatible with Windows laptops and PC used as standard at the University of Birmingham 9) Ability to store and back up data on hard drives and file servers 10) Ability to gate for ECG and respiratory motion in echocardiography, hence to provide 3D info on highly dynamic small structures, with ability to reconstruct volumes at framerates 100-300 fps 11) Ability to visualize fluid (blood) flow via Doppler ultrasound with information of directionality of flow 12) Ability to analyze tissue function through strain analyses 13) Ability to perform M- and B-mode analysis as well as AM-mode analysis for customizable angle dependent measurements 14) Ability to analyze blood vessels with vascular strain tools, for stiffness and anatomical composition 15) Ability to derive left ventricular functional parameters (e.g. Cardiac Output, Stroke Volume, Ejection Fraction from image recordings in automated form 16) EKV (ECG-gated Kilohertz Visualisation) mode enabled to reach optimal frame-rate processing for fast moving structures during B-mode analysis iii. Options for future upgrade 17) Ability to add other transducers for higher resolution or better image depth 18) Ability to add software packages for oncology 19) Ability to add contrast imaging option