Spectral Instruments Imaging systems are all designed for Bioluminescence and Fluorescence imaging; with select models including planar X-ray. As part of Bruker, some Spectral data can be coregistered with other Bruker and Molecubes preclinical imaging modalities, such as mCT, PET, SPECT and MRI.

This depends on your system model. The Lago/X accommodates up to 10 mice simultaneously. The Ami HT/X accommodates up to 5 mice simultaneously. The Kino accommodates up to 3 mice simultaneously. Rats, hamsters, guinea pigs, NHP, Zebra Fish and many other animal models can also be imaged.

No calibration is required, as the systems are factory calibrated. Instead, use the Spectral Instruments Imaging Calibration Device (SIICD) as a reference check.

To achieve consistent and reliable imaging results when imaging multiple animals simultaneously:

1. Anesthetize and position uniformly: Ensure all animals are under similar levels of anesthesia and placed in consistent orientations on the imaging platform. This reduces variability in signal due to movement or positioning.

    

2. Injection timing and consistency: Administer substrates (for BLI) or fluorescent probes at the same time and via the same route for all animals. This ensures each animal is imaged at comparable stages of substrate uptake or reporter expression.

    

3. Animal handling systems: For studies with larger cohorts, consider using an animal management systems to improve workflow and positioning accuracy:

    

   • DecaFlow: Enables imaging of up to 20 mice efficiently, with precise positioning and the ability to quickly swap trays for continuous imaging. https://spectralinvivo.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/decaflow_flyer.pdf
     
   • PentaFlow: Supports up to 10 mice with the same efficiency and positioning benefits. https://spectralinvivo.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/pentaflow_flyer_v5.pdf

Most sessions last 5–20 minutes. Longer sessions are possible with proper monitoring and enabling the Heated Platform feature on your Spectral Instruments Imaging system to prevent hypothermia. Refer to your animal handling protocol for your project and consult your veterinarian.

While all Spectral Instruments Imaging systems share the intuitive Aura software, they are designed to meet different workflow needs and experimental scales. Key differences include field of view, sensitivity, LED excitation wavelengths, emission filter options, and upgrade paths:

• Kino:  A benchtop system for imaging three mice simultaneously. It offers 10 LED excitation wavelengths and 5 emission filters, making it suitable for standard BLI and basic FLI applications. Ideal for small-scale studies where space and throughput are limited.

   

• Ami HT: Also a benchtop system, the Ami HT supports up to five mice at once. It features 10 LED excitation wavelengths and 10 emission filters, providing enhanced flexibility for multiplexed imaging and studies requiring higher sensitivity than the Kino. Can be equipped/field upgraded with X-ray. The system has an upgrade path to expand capabilities as experimental needs grow.

   

• Lago: A floor standing system designed for high throughput, demanding preclinical workflows, capable of imaging up to ten mice simultaneously. The Lago provides 14 LED excitation wavelengths and 20 emission filters, along with the highest sensitivity in the lineup. Can be equipped/field upgraded with X-ray. It supports advanced workflows such as 3D BLI/tomography and can be co-registered with Bruker/ Molecubes MRI, μCT, PET, and SPECT for multimodal imaging.

For a full comparison of specifications, features, and upgrade options across all systems, visit: https://spectralinvivo.com/imaging-systems/

You can select from this standard set of available emission filters: 490, 510, 530, 550, 570, 590, 610, 630, 650, 670, 690, 710, 730, 750, 770, 790, 810, 830, 850, & 870nm

All Spectral in vivo imaging systems feature a deeply cooled, custom-built camera that quickly cools its CCD sensor to -90°C in less than 5 minutes using an air-cooled Peltier system. This design improves efficiency, enhances image quality by reducing noise, & improves reliability by eliminating the risk of leaks found in gas or liquid cooling systems. More on this via this link: https://spectralinvivo.com/data/#no-leaks

The sensitivity is largely dictated by the amount of background noise in a system… as sensitivity is essentially the minimum signal that can be resolved above that noise.

The gold standard to measure the sensitivity of an imaging system is Minimum Detectable Radiance (MDR).

Proper cleaning helps maintain both performance and longevity of your system. Follow these guidelines:

Exterior surfaces:

• Use a lint-free wipe with soap and water or one of the following approved cleaning solutions:
  • 70% alcohol (ethyl or methyl) / 30% deionized water

     

  • Clidox®-S

     

  • Sporicidin®

     

  • Trifectant® Disinfectant
  • MB-10

     

Interior surfaces (imaging chamber and platform):

• Do not spray or pour liquids directly into the chamber.

   

• Saturate a lint-free wipe with the cleaning solution and gently wipe the platform or chamber walls.

   

• To minimize potential fluorescence artifacts from some cleaning agents, wipe surfaces afterward with deionized water. Avoid pooling water on the platform.

   

Important:

• Do not clean the ceiling of the imaging chamber without contacting Spectral Instruments Imaging first. Extreme care is required to avoid damaging sensitive optical components.

Spectral Instruments Imaging systems are designed to require minimal user maintenance. There are no routine calibrations needed; the system is calibrated from the factory. Preventive maintenance visits are typically performed annually by certified service engineers.

No, it’s not necessary to power down the system each night. Most users simply close Aura and leave the system in Green Mode, which places it in a low-power standby state. This helps maintain camera temperature stability and allows for faster startup the next day.

From startup, the system is ready within a few minutes. The most time sensitive component is the camera cooling: the camera cools to its operating temperature (–90°C absolute) in about 5 minutes. You can begin setting up your acquisition session while the camera cools, so by the time you’re ready to image, the system will be as well.

Systems are typically available to ship from inventory within 48 hours of order processing.

Yes. You can request a remote demonstration of our imaging systems by submitting a request here: https://spectralinvivo.com/live-demo. Remote demos allow you to see the system in action, review software workflows, and ask questions to an applications scientist in real time.

Transitioning from an IVIS™ system to a Spectral Instruments Imaging system is straightforward and comes with several advantages. All Spectral systems use Aura software, offering an intuitive interface for BLI and FLI while maintaining familiar quantitative workflows. You can also load your old LivingImage™ files and analyze them directly in Aura. Like IVIS™, Spectral systems are absolutely calibrated to a NIST-traceable photon standard, enabling direct comparison of datasets across instruments and platforms. Expanded fluorescence capabilities with LED excitation wavelengths improve multiplexing and tissue imaging. Kinetics mode allows automated peak/plateau detection for bioluminescent substrates, ensuring reproducible longitudinal studies. Comprehensive support, documentation, tech notes and tutorials guide users in probe selection, animal handling, and imaging best practices.