Extending the Field of View in Modulation-Based X-Ray Phase Microtomography

Area of Science:

• X-ray imaging
• Materials science
• Biological imaging

Background:

• Propagation-based phase-contrast imaging advances visualization of large samples.
• Modulation-based techniques offer quantitative electron density but struggle with large objects due to beam stability and detector issues.
• Expanding the field of view is vital for quantitative results and adapting to new synchrotron sources.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel image processing technique for quantitative high-resolution imaging of centimeter-sized objects.
• To overcome limitations in field of view for modulation-based phase-contrast imaging.
• To enable quantitative electron density mapping of large samples.

Main Methods:

• Introduced a novel image processing technique.
• Combined eigenflat optimization with deformable image registration.
• Applied the technique to scan centimeter-sized objects with multi-micrometer resolution.

Main Results:

• Successfully obtained a quantitative electron density map of a 15mm rat brain sample.
• Demonstrated high-resolution scanning despite a limited 6mm horizontal field of view.
• Showcased the technique's ability to widen applications for modulation-based imaging.

Conclusions:

• The novel image processing technique effectively addresses challenges in imaging large objects.
• This method significantly expands the applicability of modulation-based phase-contrast imaging in diverse research fields.
• Enables quantitative analysis of centimeter-sized biological and material samples with high resolution.