Functional Ultrasound Scanner · UK public procurement notice

This contract award notice refers to the purchase of a functional ultrasound (fUS) scanner (not to be confused with FUS which is focussed ultrasound – which is used for ultrasound therapy applications such as ablation).

Essential Scanner Features

Non-invasive brain imaging: Imaging of brain blood flow dynamics in the mouse brain without the need to create an acoustic window

High spatial resolution: Ability to achieve real-time spatial resolution better than 100 microns sufficient for visualising the mouse brain

High temporal resolution: Ability to achieve temporal resolution better than 100 ms to enable dynamic imaging of brain blood flow

Atlas registration: In-built Allen brain atlas so that the acquired brain images can be registered

Functional connectivity analysis: In-built interactive software to build connectivity matrices, seed maps, and perform region-based analyses.

Ultrasound localisation microscopy: Capability for super-resolution imaging and visualisation of the microvascular tree in the brain or other soft tissue organs, including associated analysis software.

3D imaging support: Ability to perform volumetric imaging and reconstruction of brain regions.

Blood flow velocity analysis: Software to support calculation of the velocity of blood moving within the micro- vasculature of the brain or other soft tissue organs

Portability and motorised scanning: Portable/moveable system with motorised scanning table and associated hardware to support ultrasound scanning of fixed-head or fixed-organ animals.

Offline analysis: Full capability for offline data analysis, including export to standard analysis platforms (e.g. MATLAB, Python).

Awake and anaesthetised imaging: System adaptable for both anaesthetised and awake mouse imaging, including head-fixation and behavioural setups.

Physiological synchronisation: Compatibility with physiological monitoring systems (e.g. ECG, respiration) and synchronisation with external equipment such as stimulation, electrophysiology, or behavioural tracking systems.

Upgrade and expandability: Modular design to support future hardware or software upgrades (e.g. dual-probe imaging, extended field-of-view).

Training and technical support: Comprehensive technical support, including on-site installation, user training, software updates, and a warranty/maintenance plan.