Photon-Counting Detector CT Scan of Dinosaur Fossils: Initial Experience

Area of Science:

• Paleontology
• Medical Imaging
• Materials Science

Background:

• Photon-counting detector (PCD) CT is an advanced imaging technology.
• Traditional energy-integrating detector (EID) CT has limitations in high-resolution imaging.
• PCD-CT is being explored for applications beyond clinical settings, including paleontology.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the application of PCD-CT for imaging large dinosaur fossils.
• To compare the image quality of PCD-CT with standard EID-CT for paleontological specimens.
• To assess the potential of PCD-CT in revealing fine anatomical structures and internal morphology of fossils.

Main Methods:

• Imaging of a *Tyrannosaurus* left dentary and a *Camarasaurus* skull using both PCD-CT (ultra-high-resolution mode) and EID-CT.
• Visual assessment of image quality obtained from both imaging modalities.
• Comparison of anatomical detail visualization, focusing on specific structures like the mandibular canal and semicircular canals.

Main Results:

• PCD-CT produced higher-resolution anatomical images of dinosaur fossils compared to EID-CT.
• PCD-CT images were free of image deterioration, offering better definition of fine structures.
• Enhanced visualization of the *Tyrannosaurus* mandibular canal and *Camarasaurus* semicircular canals was achieved with PCD-CT.

Conclusions:

• PCD-CT is a valuable tool for non-destructive imaging of large dinosaur fossils.
• The technology provides superior depiction of internal structures and morphology.
• PCD-CT's spectral information capability may offer future insights into fossil composition and preservation.