First small-animal in-vivo phase-contrast micro-CT scanner

B. Pauwels; P. Bruyndonckx; X. Liu; A. Tapfer; A. Velroyen; A. Yaroshenko; M. Bech; F. Pfeiffer; A. Sasov

doi:10.1117/12.929567

17 October 2012 First small-animal in-vivo phase-contrast micro-CT scanner

B. Pauwels, P. Bruyndonckx, X. Liu, A. Tapfer, A. Velroyen, A. Yaroshenko, M. Bech, F. Pfeiffer, A. Sasov

Proceedings Volume 8506, Developments in X-Ray Tomography VIII; 85060J (2012) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.929567
Event: SPIE Optical Engineering + Applications, 2012, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

We have developed a compact grating-based in-vivo phase-contrast micro-CT system with a rotating gantry. The 50 W microfocus x-ray source operates with 20 to 50 kV peak energy. The length of the rotating interferometer is around 47 cm. Pixel size in the object is 30 micron; the field of view is approx. 35 mm in diameter, suited to image a mouse. The interferometer consists of three gratings: an absorption grating close to the x-ray source, a phase grating to introduce a π/2 phase shift and an absorption analyzer grating positioned at the first fractional Talbot distance. Numerous drives and actuators are used to provide angular and linear grating alignment, phase stepping and object/gantry precision positioning. Phantom studies were conducted to investigate performance, accuracy and stability of the scanner. In particular, the influences of gantry rotation and of temperature fluctuations on the interferometric image acquisition were characterized. Also dose measurements were performed. The first imaging results obtained with the system show the complementary nature of phase-contrast micro-CT images with respect to absorption-based micro-CT. Future improvements, necessary to optimize the scanner for in-vivo small-animal CT scanning on a regular and easy-to-use basis, are also discussed.

Citation Download Citation

B. Pauwels, P. Bruyndonckx, X. Liu, A. Tapfer, A. Velroyen, A. Yaroshenko, M. Bech, F. Pfeiffer, and A. Sasov "First small-animal in-vivo phase-contrast micro-CT scanner", Proc. SPIE 8506, Developments in X-Ray Tomography VIII, 85060J (17 October 2012); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.929567

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