Technical Support
| Facilities |
Administrator |
| Animal experimentation |
Prof. Simon Chow |
| Histology |
Ms. Maggie Cheuk |
| Hard tissue processing |
Prof. Dick Chow |
| Mechanical test |
Dr. Bruma Fu |
| Computer Tomography |
Prof. Simon Chow |
| Microscopy |
Prof. Dick Chow |
| High resolution Ultrasound imaging |
Dr. Bruma Fu |
| Animal gait analysis |
Ms. Maggie Cheuk |
| IVIS |
Prof. Wayne Lee |
| Muscle testing machine |
Mr. Season Guo |
| Cell culture |
Dr. Carol Lau |
| Molecular Biology |
Prof. Wayne Lee |
Molecular
Molecular Biology Equipment
O&T department is well equipped for general molecular experiments, including cloning, qPCR (Applied Biosystems, StepOnePlus) and Western blot (Bio-Rad). More advanced molecular experiments, such as gene expression profiling, DNA sequencing, proteomics and multiplex can be performed in the core laboratories of Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, CUHK (https://www.lihs.cuhk.edu.hk/en-us/corefacilitiesandresources/corefacilities.aspx).
 5424 R, Eppendorf
 GeneAmp, PCR System 9700, Applied Biosystems
 StepOnePlus, Applied Biosystems  Mini-Protean Tetra Cell, PowerPac HC High-Current Power Supply, Bio-Rad
In Vivo Live Imaging System (IVIS 200, Xenogen)
with high-sensitivity camera, allows longitudinal monitoring and integration of in vitro or in vivo fluorescent and bioluminescent images. Widely used in tumor biology and tracking of stem cells and nanoparticles.
Tissue Culture
• Forma Series II Water Jacketed CO2 Incubator (Model 3131), Thermo Scientific combines precise CO2 control with thermal conductivity sensor, and innovative continuous contamination control technology.
• Direct Heat Steri-Cycle® CO2 Incubator (Model 371), Thermo Scientific combines in-chamber HEPA air filtration system, high temperature sterilization cycle, and precise CO2 control with thermal conductivity sensor.
• CO2 Incubator (Galaxy 48R), New Brunswick™ offers large 5.3” LCD intuitive interface with 72-hour data logging and easy access to set-points and alarms. It provides O2 control option for hypoxic applications.
 • CartiGen (C10-12) Bioreactor, Instron
provides mechanical stimulation to three-dimensional tissue engineered constructs to create physiological conditions in vitro.
 • Mechanical Cell Strain Instrument Strex ST-140-04, B-Bridge International Inc.
Automated instrument designed to hold up to 6 strain chambers with precise uniaxial mechanical strain. It ensures that cells grow over long periods of time with regular cyclic stretching or compression.
Hard Tissue Histology
 • DM5500 B, Leica Automated upright microscope system for transmitted and fluorescence light microscopy with automatic Differential Interference Contrast (DIC). The system is installed with softwares for image capture (LAS AF), image analysis (ImagePro® Premier, Media Cybernetics), and extensive bone histomorphometric analysis (OsteoMeasure™ Histomorphometry Systems, Osteometrics Inc).  • DMRB, Leica Upright microscope system for transmitted and fluorescence light microscopy. It is equipped with digital camera (DFC490, Leica), image capturing software (LAS v4.4) and image analysis software (Image J, NIH).  • DMLS, Leica Light microscope for routine examinations of biological and medical samples.  • SM2500E Polycut Sectioning System, Leica Heavy duty sectioning system designed for sectioning of undecalcified and/or large-surface specimens. Hard materials such as bones and teeth embedded in methylmethacrylate can be sectioned.
 • SP1600 Saw Microtome, Leica Designed for cutting very hard and brittle samples, such as undecalcified bone with implants, embedded in methylmetacrylate with a maximum diameter of 35mm.  • 300 CP Contact Point Sawing System, EXAKT Diamond band saws cutting system for cutting difficult materials and material combinations, such as medical implants.  • DeCa DX-100, Pro-Cure Medical Technology Co Ltd Rapid decalcifier uses ultrasound with temperature control to accelerate the decalcification of bone samples without damaging the cellular and tissue structure.  • Phoenix 4000, Buehler This sample preparation system is used for grinding and polishing of methylmetacrylate-embedded samples.
Soft Tissue Histology
 • Automated Rotary Microtome (RM 2165, Leica) allows both motorized and manual sectioning of paraffin-embedded specimens such as soft tissues and decalcified bones.  • Fully Automated Rotary Microtome (RM2255, Leica) allows fully motorized and manual sectioning of both paraffin- and resin-embedded specimens. The cooling device (RM CoolClamp, Leica) keeps the specimens at a low temperature and facilities sectioning.
Densitometry
Micro-Computed Tomography
The Musculoskeletal Research Laboratory is equipped with two units of high resolution micro-computed tomography. The microCT 40 can produce non-destructive specimen CT imaging at highest resolution of 6 μm, whereas the vivaCT 40 can perform in vivo longitudinal CT monitoring of small and large rodents at highest resolution of 14 μm. The vivaCT is equipment along with a gaseous anesthesia system for in vivo scans.
 vivaCT 40, Scanco Medical.  microCT 40, Scanco Medical. Peripheral Quantitative Computed Tomography (pQCT)
Two units of pQCT are available at the Laboratory Animal Services Centre (LASEC) at the CUHK main campus for animal research purposes. These equipment are useful for longitudinal monitoring of bone mineral changes in animal models from large rodents to as large as osteopenic goats.
 XCT 3000, Stratec Medizintechnik.
Biomechanics
Ex Vivo Muscle Functional Test System (800A; Aurora Scientific, Inc.)
used for examining the functional outcomes of an intact muscle isolated from rodents in a tissue bath. Dual fine/coarse controls permit accurate positioning of the tissue and the adjustments of resting tension or muscle length.
Uniaxial Mechanical Testing Machine (H25KM, Tinius Olsen)
used for evaluation of material properties of connective tissues, which are primary outcome measures in animal studies of musculoskeletal injuries.
Animal Gait Analysis System (Catwalk XT 9.0, Noldus Information Technology)
allows automatic gait capture of small animals under non-stressed condition. Automatic print classification and generation of gait parameters provides useful information for orthopaedic research which involves pain-associated gait changes.
Animal
Digital Radiography System (UltraFocusDXA, Faxitron)
is a benchtop ultra-high resolution imaging and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Besides its digital radiography function, this machine provides a true DXA analysis with 6X geometric magnification and up to 8um resolution images. DXA mode can automatically calculate bone mineral density, bone mineral content, lean and fat mass percentages.
Small Animal X-Ray Imaging
The Musculoskeletal Research Laboratory is equipped with one unit of conventional x-ray cabinet for animal up to the size of a full-grown New Zealand white rabbit, along with an automatic film processor; and a unit of digital x-ray cabinet for animal size up to large rodent. These equipment are located at the animal surgery room at the LKS Institute of Health Sciences.
 Cabinet X-Ray System, Faxitron  Specimen Radiography System, MX-20, Faxitron High-resolution Ultrasound Imaging System (Vevo 770®, VisualSonics)
generates real-time high-resolution ultrasound images from small animals. The system supports real-time B-mode imaging, 3D Doppler and contrast-mode ultrasound imaging. Ultrasound-guided needle injection can be performed with the system.
Surgical Theatre for Small Animals
The Musculoskeletal Research Laboratory is equipped with one unit of heated surgical table with hydraulic base for multiple height and tilt adjustment, and one unit of PentaLED 5000K surgical lamps for small animal surgical operations at the Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences.
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