NIUMAG QMR06-090H-PRO Low-Field Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Analyzer for Small Animal Body Composition
| Brand | NIUMAG |
|---|---|
| Origin | Jiangsu, China |
| Model | QMR06-090H-PRO-1 |
| Instrument Type | Low-Field NMR Analyzer |
| Sample Type | Solid-Liquid Dual Mode |
| Magnetic Field Strength | 0.15 ± 0.015 T |
| Magnet Uniformity | ≤300 ppm |
| Sample Weight Range | 0.1–6 g (ex vivo tissue) |
| Magnet Type | Permanent Magnet |
| Analysis Time | <80 s per measurement |
Overview
The NIUMAG QMR06-090H-PRO is a dedicated low-field nuclear magnetic resonance (LF-NMR) analyzer engineered for non-invasive, quantitative in vivo and ex vivo body composition assessment in preclinical rodent models—including mice, rats, and small rabbits. Unlike high-field MRI systems optimized for anatomical imaging, this instrument leverages time-domain NMR relaxometry—specifically transverse relaxation (T₂) decay analysis—to differentiate and quantify major tissue compartments based on intrinsic proton mobility differences. Fat protons exhibit long T₂ relaxation times due to high molecular mobility, while water-bound protons in lean tissue and free fluid display shorter, multi-exponential decay profiles. By applying calibrated pulse sequences (e.g., CPMG) and fitting resultant decay curves using constrained non-negative least squares (NNLS) algorithms, the system delivers absolute mass fractions of total body fat, lean mass, and free fluid—without ionizing radiation, contrast agents, or surgical intervention.
Key Features
- Non-invasive live-animal operation: Enables repeated longitudinal monitoring of conscious, unrestrained animals—eliminating anesthesia-related metabolic confounders and enabling true physiological assessment across disease progression or treatment cycles.
- High-throughput quantitative analysis: Delivers full-body composition metrics in under 80 seconds per subject, supporting cohort-scale studies with minimal operator dependency.
- Dual-mode sample compatibility: Accommodates both live animals (10–800 g) and excised tissues (0.1–6 g) within the same magnet bore, facilitating correlative in vivo/ex vivo validation workflows.
- Permanent magnet architecture: Provides stable, drift-free 0.15 T field with ≤300 ppm homogeneity over the active volume—optimized for robust T₂ quantification without cryogen consumption or facility shielding requirements.
- Modular upgrade path: Hardware-ready for optional 3D NMR imaging expansion (up to 512 × 512 × 128 matrix resolution), supporting morphological correlation with compositional data.
Sample Compatibility & Compliance
The QMR06-090H-PRO supports standardized protocols aligned with NIH and OECD guidelines for preclinical metabolic phenotyping. Its non-destructive methodology complies with the principles of the 3Rs (Replacement, Reduction, Refinement), reducing animal use through longitudinal reuse. Data acquisition and reporting modules are designed to support GLP-compliant workflows, including audit-trail-enabled user authentication, timestamped raw data archiving, and version-controlled processing parameters. While not FDA 21 CFR Part 11 certified out-of-the-box, the software architecture permits configuration for regulated environments via configurable electronic signatures and data integrity controls upon customer request.
Software & Data Management
NIUMAG’s proprietary NMIQ software provides an integrated environment for instrument control, spectral acquisition, T₂ distribution deconvolution, and compositional quantification. Raw FID and echo train data are stored in vendor-neutral HDF5 format. The analysis pipeline includes batch processing, inter-subject normalization, and export of tabular results (CSV, Excel) compatible with statistical platforms such as GraphPad Prism and R. For advanced users, Python and MATLAB APIs enable custom algorithm integration. All processing steps—including baseline correction, exponential fitting constraints, and compartmental assignment thresholds—are fully documented and reproducible, ensuring method transparency for peer-reviewed publication.
Applications
- Evaluation of anti-obesity therapeutics: Tracking dynamic changes in adipose mass and lean/fat ratio during chronic dosing regimens.
- Nutritional intervention studies: Quantifying shifts in body composition following dietary modifications (e.g., high-fat vs. ketogenic diets).
- Metabolic disease modeling: Longitudinal monitoring of lipodystrophy, cachexia, or insulin resistance phenotypes in genetically modified strains.
- Pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) correlation: Linking drug exposure to functional tissue remodeling endpoints.
- Ex vivo tissue characterization: Validating in vivo findings using isolated organs (e.g., liver steatosis grading, muscle edema quantification).
FAQ
Is anesthesia required for in vivo measurements?
No. The system is designed for conscious, restrained animal scanning—preserving native metabolic state and eliminating anesthetic interference with energy homeostasis.
What is the minimum sample weight for reliable fat quantification?
For live mice, reliable quantification is achieved down to ~10 g; for excised tissue samples, the lower limit is 0.1 g, assuming homogeneous sample placement within the RF coil sensitive volume.
Can the system distinguish between subcutaneous and visceral fat depots?
Standard relaxometry mode provides whole-body fat fraction only. Depot-specific resolution requires optional 3D NMR imaging capability and subsequent segmentation-based analysis.
Does the software support automated batch analysis for large cohorts?
Yes. The NMIQ platform includes scriptable batch processing with customizable QC flags, outlier detection, and summary report generation across hundreds of subjects.
Is technical support available outside standard business hours?
Yes. NIUMAG maintains a 24/7 remote support desk with guaranteed 4-hour response time and on-site engineer dispatch within 24 hours for provincial capitals or 72 hours for remote regions—applicable year-round, including holidays.
