Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 22, 2025
A Sectioning, Coring, and Image Processing Guide for High-Throughput Cortical Bone Sample Procurement and Analysis for Synchrotron Micro-CT
Published on: June 12, 2020
Clinical boundary conditions for propagation-based X-ray phase contrast imaging: from bio-sample models targeting to
M S S Gobo1, D R Balbin1, M G Hönnicke2
1Departamento de Física, Faculdade de Filosofia Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
Background:
Typical propagation-based X-ray phase contrast imaging (PB-PCI) experiments using polyenergetic sources are tested in very ideal conditions: low-energy spectrum (mainly characteristic X-rays), small thickness and homogeneous materials considered weakly absorbing objects, large object-to-detector distance, long exposure times and non-clinical detector.
Objective:
Explore PB-PCI features using boundary conditions imposed by a low power polychromatic X-ray source (X-ray spectrum without characteristic X-rays), thick and heterogenous materials and a small area imaging detector with high low-detection radiation threshold, elements commonly found in a clinical scenario.
Methods:
A PB-PCI setup implemented using a microfocus X-ray source and a dental imaging detector was characterized in terms of different spectra and geometric parameters on the acquired images. Test phantoms containing fibers and homogeneous materials with close attenuation characteristics and animal bone and mixed soft tissues (bio-sample models) were analyzed. Contrast to Noise Ratio (CNR), system spatial resolution and Kerma values were obtained for all images.
Results:
Phase contrast images showed CNR up to 15% higher than conventional contact images. Moreover, it is better seen when large magnifications (>3) and object-to-detector distances (>13 cm) were used. The influence of the spectrum was not appreciable due to the low efficiency of the detector (thin scintillator screen) at high energies.
Conclusions:
Despite the clinical boundary condition used in this work, regarding the X-ray spectrum, thick samples, and detection system, it was possible to acquire phase contrast images of biological samples.
More Related Videos
07:48High Spatial Resolution Chemical Imaging of Implant-Associated Infections with X-ray Excited Luminescence Chemical Imaging Through Tissue
Published on: September 30, 2022
09:36Safety Precautions and Operating Procedures in an ABSL-4 Laboratory: 4. Medical Imaging Procedures
Published on: October 3, 2016
Related Concept Videos
01:10X-ray Diffraction of Biological Samples
According to Bragg's law, when X-rays strike the sample positioned on a stage, the rays are scattered by the electron clouds around the sample atoms. The X-ray diffraction or scattering is caused by constructive interference of the X-ray waves that reflect off the internal...
01:24X-ray Imaging
01:26Phase Contrast and Differential Interference Contrast Microscopy
In-phase-contrast microscopes, interference between light directly passing through a cell and light refracted by cellular components is used to create high-contrast, high-resolution images without staining. It is the oldest and simplest type of microscope that creates an image by altering the wavelengths of light rays passing through the specimen. Altered wavelength paths are created using an annular stop in the condenser. The annular stop produces a hollow cone of...