Main research activities
The research of the Institute includes themes from General Radiology and Medical Physics in Veterinary Medicine. There are three main activities:
Use and Optimisation of Imaging Methods in Veterinary Medicine
These research projects are often carried out in cooperation with the clinics (e.g. Small Animal Clinic; Clinic for Horses; Clinic for Pets, Reptiles, Pet and Feral Birds; Clinic for Small Ruminants, Clinic for Cattle). They occur in the areas of imaging with ionising radiation (Digital Radiography, Computer Tomography (CT), Micro-CT), Magnetic Resonance Tomography (MRT), including functional MRT, and Infrared Tomography (IRT).
Use of the Finite Element Analysis (FEA) in Veterinary Medical Issues
In order to a better understanding of fundamental physical processes within living creatures, within the scope of interdisciplinary research projects mechanical, thermal and electrical processes in animals are simulated with the aid of FEA in a high-performance computer. These research projects are often carried out in cooperation with other institutions (e.g. Institute of Anatomy, Clinic for Small Ruminants, Department for Fish Diseases and Fish Farming). They concern, above all, simulations of
- mechanical stress and deformations in the equine jaw during chewing,
- heat dispersion and distribution in equine teeth during dental treatment,
- animal welfare-friendly stunning and killing of fish (e.g. simulation of current density distribution
in the brain during electrical stunning),
- animal welfare-friendly stunning and killing of piglets (e.g. simulation of current density
distribution in the brain and heart when using electrical current).
Alongside a better understanding of physiological and pathological processes in animals the simulations also lead to a limitation in the variation of relevant parameters in animal experiments and thereby to a reduction in the number of animal experiments.
Research in the Areas of Radiation Protection and Dosimetry of Ionising Radiation
Through the increasing application of imaging methods with ionising radiation in veterinary medicine on the one hand, and the continuing tendency of a lowering of the dose limits for persons exposed to radiation at work on the other hand, the following questions arise in view of radiation protection and dosimetry of ionising radiation. Research projects are frequently carried out in cooperation with the clinics (e.g. Small Animal Clinic; Clinic for Horses; Clinic for Pets, Reptiles, Pet and Feral Birds, Clinic for Cattle). They occur above all in the areas
- Radiation exposure of personnel in radiology and those accompanying animals during
radiological investigations and
- Optimisation of physical-technical parameters in the evaluation of dosimeters (e.g.
thermoluminescent dosimeters).
The aims of this research are the evaluation and improvement of the radiation protection situation when using imaging methods (e.g. with X-rays).
