Structural Testing and Imaging Service Line
Structural testing services at Mayo Clinic focus on the physical materials needed for biomedical research. Mayo Clinic's imaging services help investigators create high-quality visualizations and physical models of their research data or samples, while also developing, testing and introducing new imaging techniques.
Biomechanics Core
The Biomechanics Core provides services that include:
- Mechanical testing.
- Simulation.
- Data analysis.
- Engineering design.
- Fabrication.
- Simulation.
- Modeling.
Services are applied to projects in a broad range of specialties, including dentistry, cardiology, gastroenterology, obstetrics and gynecology, and orthopedics. Services help researchers evaluate clinical interventions on skeletal joints and tissue structures, simulate medical device performance to treat the effects of degenerative disease and injury, and characterize the mechanical properties of biomedical materials.
Read more about the Biomechanics Core.
Biomedical Imaging Resource Core
The Biomedical Imaging Resource Core provides study teams at Mayo Clinic and around the world with:
- Reproducible image analysis.
- Data management.
- Guidance on protocol design.
- Custom software and hardware solutions.
The core's media and model production resources help researchers create high-quality visualizations and physical models of their data.
Read more about the Biomedical Imaging Resource Core.
Cytometry and Cell Imaging Core
The Cytometry and Cell Imaging Core provides researchers with access to state-of-the-art equipment in three main pipelines:
- Cell and tissue imaging resources, including microscopes and a slide scanner.
- Flow cytometry, including analytical flow cytometry and cell sorting.
- Mass cytometry (CyTOF).
The Cytometry and Cell Imaging Core supports discovery science by providing instrument training, help with experimental design and technical support. The core's expertise is available to researchers who need cell sorting, imaging, or high-parameter analysis of cells and tissues.
Read more about the Cytometry and Cell Imaging Core.
Flow Cytometry Core
Located on Mayo Clinic's campus in Phoenix and Scottsdale, Arizona, the Flow Cytometry Core offers access to:
- Laser instrumentation capable of exciting dyes that require a 355-nm, 405-nm, 488-nm, 560-nm or 633-nm laser.
- A cell sorter capable of sorting human and other samples into tubes, slides or 96-well plates.
Typical applications include apoptosis, cell cycle, immunophenotyping and protein expression. Facilities training, 24-hour access for trained users, experimental design guidance and setup assistance are available.
Read more about the Flow Cytometry Core.
Microscopy and Cell Analysis Core
The Microscopy and Cell Analysis Core provides:
- Specimen preparation.
- Light and electron microscopy.
- Multiparameter flow analysis.
- Cell-sorting services.
The core also develops, evaluates and implements new microscopy and flow cytometry techniques. Specialized instrumentation and procedures include cytometry, electron microscopy, optical microscopy and image analysis.
Read more about the Microscopy and Cell Analysis Core.
Structural Biology Core
The Structural Biology Core currently supports cryogenic sample electron microscopy, along with associated services such as training, data collection, processing, analysis and data storage. Future services will include nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography.
Read more about the Structural Biology Core (must be logged in to the Mayo Clinic intranet to access this site).
X-Ray Imaging Core
The X-Ray Imaging Core provides state-of-the-art X-ray imaging services to Mayo Clinic's research community and limited work externally. This physically distributed core on Mayo's campus in Rochester, Minnesota, offers access to:
- CT scanning.
- Human postmortem CT imaging.
- C-arm portable X-ray fluoroscopy.
- A surgery suite.
- Biplane fluoroscopy.
- Micro-CT scanning.
Read more about the X-Ray Imaging Core.