Cryo-imaging of 70+GB mice: Image processing/visualization challenges and biotechnology applications

The Case whole mouse cryo-imaging system is a section-and-image system which provides microscopic, information rich, whole mouse color brightfield and molecular fluorescence images of an entire mouse. Cryo-imaging creates extremely large data sets (>;70GB color bright-field) and presents a multitude of instrumentation and image processing/visualization challenges. Precise mechanical control was required to move a 50 lb microscope payload for tiled acquisitions. Multiple image preprocessing steps were developed, including illumination correction, tiling, alignment, stitching, and subsurface fluorescence removal. We created interactive, multi-scale 3D visualization specially suited for cryo-image data which allowed one to visualize an entire mouse on the screen and zoom to progressively greater resolution. Organ segmentation, stem cell detection, and registration are all provided. Cryo-imaging addresses needs in a very large number of biomedical technology applications including mouse and embryo phenotyping, drug delivery, imaging agents, cancer, and stem cells. Cryo-imaging fills the gap between whole animal in vivo imaging and histology, allowing one to image a mouse along the continuum mouse → organ → tissue structure → cell → molecule. In this overview, we describe this unique imaging technology and a variety of exciting applications.