VEVO 3100 LAZR-X   2

This contract action was not awarded competitively. The rationale is stated below.

FujiFilm Visualonics Corporation is the Original Equipment Manufacturer for the currently owned Vevo2100-LAZR imaging system. This contractor is offering a significant trade-in value for our current equipment. Because there are ongoing research studies in progress that use the current equipment, we want to upgrade the current imaging system to the latest model in order to maintain consistency and validity of data already obtained using the current system. The Vevo LAZR-X Imaging System (latest model) is the only commercially available photoacoustic micro- imaging system (in the frequency range of 20 to 55 MHz) with inherent co- registration of the photoacoustic signal and ultra-high frequency ultrasound. The Vevo LAZR-X system includes the Vevo3100 high frequency ultrasound which can be used for ultrasound imaging only.

Many ongoing studies use ultrasound for tumor research and especiallly for cardiac research. Other ongoing studies use the photoacoustic imaging feature. We found several other systems for preclinical ultrasound imaging and optoacoustic imaging. The MSOT Invision 512-Echo by iThera Medical combines ultrasound and photoacoustic imaging, but it does not
offer the image resolution needed with ultrasound to examine small anatomical changes such as might be found with cancer studies. Also, because the animal is in a fixed position in the imaging holder, it does not allow the ability to perform normal ultrasound imaging such as echocardiogram. The Tritom by PhotoSound distributed by Scintica Instrumentation is another commercially available system for photoacoustic imaging. However, it is strictly PAI and does not combine ultrasound. The Prospect T1 preclinical ultrasound generates very nice high frequency ultrasound images but is limited to ultrasound only. Fujifilm Visualsonics is the only vender that meets the requirements for the combined imaging systems and requirements needed for our investigators.