SYNCHROTRON MICRO TOMOGRAPHY (SMT)

Synchrotron Micro Tomography (SMT)

Synchrotron Micro Tomography (SMT)

Abstract

Microtomography (commonly known as Industrial CT Scanning), like tomography, uses x-rays to create cross-sections of a 3D-object that later can be used to recreate a virtual model without destroying the original model. The term micro is used to indicate that the pixel sizes of the cross-sections are in the micrometer range.[1] These pixel sizes have also resulted in the terminology micro-computed tomography, micro-ct, micro-computer tomography, high resolution x-ray tomography, and similar terminologies. All of these names generally represent the same class of instruments.

This also means that the machine is much smaller in design compared to the human version and is used to model smaller objects. In general, there are two types of scanner setups. In one setup, the X-ray source and detector are typically stationary during the scan while the sample/animal rotates. The second setup, much more like a clinical CT scanner, is gantry based where the animal/specimen is stationary in space while the X-ray tube and detector rotate around. These scanners are typically used for small animals (in-vivo scanners), biomedical samples, foods, microfossils, and other studies for which minute detail is desired.

Because microtomography scanners offer isotropic, or near isotropic, resolution, display of images does not need to be restricted to the conventional axial images. Instead, it is possible for a software program to build a volume by 'stacking' the individual slices one on top of the other. The program may then display the volume in an alternative manner.

Volume rendering is a technique used to display a 2D projection of a 3D discretely sampled data set, as produced by a microtomography scanner. Usually these are acquired in a regular pattern (e.g., one slice every millimeter) and usually have a regular number of image pixels in a regular pattern. This is an ...