Method for expanding the field-of-view of micro-CT imaging using array micro-focus X-ray source

Area of Science:

• Imaging Science
• Materials Science
• Physics

Background:

• Micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) offers high-resolution, non-destructive imaging.
• Detector size limits micro-CT's field-of-view (FOV), restricting imaging of larger objects.
• Existing micro-CT techniques struggle with high-resolution imaging of macroscopic samples.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel method for expanding the FOV in micro-CT imaging.
• To address the limitations of detector size in high-resolution scanning.
• To enable detailed imaging of larger objects using micro-CT technology.

Main Methods:

• Developed an array micro-focus X-ray source based on electron beam scanning (EBMCT).
• Implemented a weighting distribution strategy using trigonometric functions to mitigate projection redundancy and truncation.
• Derived two-dimensional (w-MSFBP) and three-dimensional (w-MSFDK) reconstruction algorithms tailored for EBMCT.

Main Results:

• EBMCT successfully expanded the FOV by over two times while preserving high image resolution.
• The proposed weighting strategy effectively smoothed projections, reducing artifacts.
• Both 2D and 3D reconstruction algorithms accurately reconstructed object structures.

Conclusions:

• EBMCT is a viable technique for significantly expanding the FOV in micro-CT.
• The developed reconstruction algorithms (w-MSFBP, w-MSFDK) provide accurate image reconstruction for EBMCT.
• This advancement offers valuable insights for designing and researching large FOV micro-CT systems.