Integrated multi-rail imaging system

An imaging system for imaging portions of small-animals, comprising:

• a first rail having a longitudinal axis, an upper surface, and a first edge opposite a second edge, wherein the first and second edges are substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the first rail;
• a first lip and a second lip extending from the first and second edges, respectively, wherein the first and second lips are substantially perpendicular to the top surface;
• a second rail having a longitudinal axis and an underside surface with a first member and a second member mounted thereto, wherein the first and second members are configured to slideably engage the first and second lips, respectively, to allow the second rail to move in a linear bi-directional manner along the longitudinal axis of the first rail;
• a small-animal mount assembly having a mount subassembly, wherein the mount subassembly includes a mount subassembly base member mountable to the second rail and movable in a linear bi-directional manner along the longitudinal axis of the second rail;
• and
• a scanhead assembly having a mount, the mount having a scanhead assembly base member mountable to the first rail and movable in a linear bi-directional manner along the longitudinal axis of the first rail, wherein the scanhead assembly further comprises a scanhead unit having an operative emitting end, the scanhead unit being electrically coupled to a computer.