OncoBone acts as a distributor for small animal Dual-energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA) iNSiGHT of OsteoSys in Europe.
iNSiGHT DXA in bone and metabolic research
Dual-energy X-ray Absorptiometry(DXA) is an imaging technology mostly utilized in bone and metabolic research that is based on different absorption of high and low energy X-rays, making it possible to accurately separate soft tissue (fat and lean) and hard tissue (bone), and to perform detailed analysis on bone density and body composition (see Table 1 for more details).
iNSiGHT is one of the market-leader DXA devices used to analyze bone density and body composition in small animals. It is widely used in research in academic institutions and companies globally. Research areas currently benefiting from iNSiGHT include:
- Metabolic bone diseases (osteoporosis, rare bone diseases, rickets, osteomalacia etc.)
- Musculoskeletal diseases (osteoarthritis, bone fractures and healing, bone and muscle regeneration, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, sarcopenia, cachexia etc.)
- Dental (osteonecrosis of the jaw, implant research etc.)
- Metabolic disorders (metabolic syndrome, disease, obesity etc.)
- Oncology (osteosarcoma, bone metastasis, multiple myeloma bone disease, cancer-induced osteolysis, treatment-induced osteolysis etc.)
- Other areas (preclinical efficacy and safety studies, morphological and longitudinal follow up of phenotype development in for example transgenic mice)
Read also our Blog post for examples on how researchers have utilized iNSiGHT in their studies.
Table 1: Measurement readouts in iNSiGHT
| Parameter | Unit | Description |
| BMC | g | Bone Mineral Content (Bone Mass) = bone density x bone area |
| FAT | g | Fat Mass |
| FAT | % | Fat ratio = Fat mass / Total mass |
| LEAN | g | Fat free mass |
| Total Mass | g | Total mass = Fat + Lean + Bone mass |
| BMD | g/cm2 | Bone Mineral Density |
| Bone Area | cm2 | Bone Area in Image |
| Tissue Area | cm2 | Tissue Area in Image |
Advantages of iNSiGHT DXA in bone and metabolic research
See the following video for demonstration of iNSiGHT DXA
General advantages of DXA technology over other standard imaging techniques used in bone and metabolic research include:
- Whole-body imaging capability
- Analysis of whole-body images and user defined Regions of Interest (ROIs)
- Longitudinal imaging with inhalation anesthesia supported
- Analyzing changes in whole-body or ROIs at any time point during or after the study
- Rapid imaging and analysis of results that allows making decisions during the study
- Imaging and analysis of ex vivo samples
- Low dose radiation allowing repeated measurements safely in small animals
Advantages of iNSiGHT over other DXA devices in the market:
- Faster imaging and analysis
- Higher precision and accuracy
- Suitable for animals weighing from 10 to 1 000 grams
- Analysis program included in the purchase
- Easy-to-use device and software
- Cost-effective
- Training and support available
Table 2: iNSiGHT specifications
| Specification | Details |
| X-ray System | DXA (Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry) |
| Scan Method | Cone Beam |
| Scan Object | Small Animals (10~1000 g) |
| Scan Time | 25 sec. (10 sec. for X- ray exposure + Measurement) |
| Measurement Parameter | BMD (g/cm²), BMC (g), Bone Area (cm²), Tissue Area (cm²) Fat ratio (%), Fat mass (g), Lean mass (g), Total Weight (g) |
| Precision | CV < 1% |
| Accuracy | R² > 0.9 |
| Image area | 16.5 cm x 25.5 cm @1.2X |
| Pixel Size | 100 μm @ 1.2X (DXA Mode), 31 μm @ 4X (DR Mode) |
| Operating System | Windows 10, 64 bit (recommended) |
| Dimensions (W x D x H) | 66 cm x 60.5 cm x 113 cm |
| Weight | 160 kg |
Contact info@oncobone.com for more information.
