The imaging system can comprise a plurality of elongated rails, a scanhead
assembly, and a small animal mount assembly. The scanhead assembly is
selectively mounted onto a first rail and is constructed and arranged for
movement in a linear bi-directional manner along the longitudinal axis of
the first rail. The small-animal mount assembly is selectively mounted
onto a second rail and is constructed and arranged for movement in a
linear bi-directional manner along the longitudinal axis of the second
rail. The second rail being mounted relative to the first rail such that
the longitudinal axis of the second rail is at an angle to the
longitudinal axis of the first rail. The imaging system can also comprise
a needle injection assembly that is selectively mounted onto the third
rail and is constructed and arranged for movement in a linear
bi-directional manner along the longitudinal axis of the third rail. The
third rail being mounted relative to the second rail and the first rail
such that the longitudinal axis of the third rail is substantially
coaxial to the longitudinal axis of the first rail.