A considerable limitation of current small-animal PET/CT imaging is the low throughput of acquisitions. Consequently, to sufficiently power a study, high costs accumulate. Together with a commercial scanner manufacturer, we developed a 4-bed mouse “hotel” to simultaneously image up to 4 mice, thereby reducing costs and maximizing the efficiency of radiotracer use when compared with scans performed with a single mouse bed. Methods: For physiologic evaluation of the mouse hotel, temperature and anesthesia were tested for uniformity in conjunction with ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT imaging of mini image-quality phantoms designed to fit the new imaging system. After reconstruction, National Electrical Manufacturers Association NU-4 tests examined uniformity, recovery coefficients, and spillover ratios. To evaluate the mouse hotel under standard in vivo imaging conditions, 4 mice were simultaneously scanned by dynamic ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT over 60 min, and quantified images were compared with those acquired using a single mouse bed. Results: The mouse hotel maintained a constant temperature of 36.8°C ± 0.4°C, with anesthesia distributed evenly to each nose cone (2.9 ± 0.1 L/min). The National Electrical Manufacturers Association tests revealed values within tolerable limits for uniformity, for recovery coefficients in rods larger than 2 mm, and for spillover ratios in the nonradioactive water- and air-filled chambers. There was low variability in radiotracer uptake in all major organs for the mouse hotel versus the single mouse bed. Conclusion: Analysis of images acquired using the mouse hotel confirmed its utility to increase the throughput of small-animal PET imaging without considerable loss of image quality or quantitative precision. In comparison to a single mouse bed, the cost and time associated with each scan were substantially reduced.

当前的小动物PET / CT成像的一个显着局限性是采集量低。因此，为了充分推动研究，会积累高额费用。与一家商用扫描仪制造商一起，我们开发了一个4张床的“旅馆”，可同时对多达4只鼠标进行成像，从而与单张鼠标床进行的扫描相比，可降低成本并最大限度地提高放射性示踪剂的使用效率。方法：为了对小鼠旅馆进行生理评估，结合¹⁸ ℃测试温度和麻醉的均匀性。微型图像质量体模的F-FDG PET / CT成像，旨在适应新的成像系统。重建后，美国国家电气制造商协会NU-4测试检查了均匀性，恢复系数和溢出率。为了评估在标准体内成像条件下的小鼠旅馆，在60分钟内同时通过动态¹⁸ F-FDG PET / CT扫描了4只小鼠，并将量化的图像与使用单张小鼠床获得的图像进行了比较。结果：老鼠旅馆保持36.8°C±0.4°C的恒定温度，麻醉均匀分布在每个鼻锥上（2.9±0.1 L / min）。美国国家电气制造商协会的测试显示，在均匀性，大于2 mm的棒中的回收系数以及在非放射性充水和充满空气的腔室中的溢出比，公差值在容许范围内。与单个小鼠床相比，小鼠旅馆的所有主要器官的放射性示踪剂摄入量均较低。结论：使用鼠标旅馆获取的图像分析证实，其可用于提高小动物PET成像的通量，而不会显着降低图像质量或定量精度。与单个鼠标床相比，与每次扫描相关的成本和时间都大大减少了。