Abstract
The edge illumination (EI) x-ray phase contrast imaging (XPCi) method has been recently further developed to perform tomographic and, thus, volumetric imaging. In this paper, the first tomographic EI XPCi images acquired with a conventional x-ray source at dose levels below that used for preclinical small animal imaging are presented. Two test objects, a biological sample and a custom-built phantom, were imaged with a laboratory-based EI XPCi setup in tomography mode. Tomographic maps that show the phase shift and attenuating properties of the object were reconstructed, and analyzed in terms of signal-to-noise ratio and quantitative accuracy. Dose measurements using thermoluminescence devices were performed. The obtained images demonstrate that phase based imaging methods can provide superior results compared to attenuation based modalities for weakly attenuating samples also in 3D. Moreover, and, most importantly, they demonstrate the feasibility of low-dose imaging. In addition, the experimental results can be considered quantitative within the constraints imposed by polychromaticity. The results, together with the method's dose efficiency and compatibility with conventional x-ray sources, indicate that tomographic EI XPCi can become an important tool for the routine imaging of biomedical samples.
Highlights
X-ray phase contrast imaging (XPCi) has become an important tool for the nondestructive visualization of weakly attenuating samples as often encountered in biomedical applications
The first tomographic images obtained with the laboratory implementation of edge illumination (EI) XPCi were presented
It was observed that maps showing the phase shifting properties of an object provided a higher signal difference-to-noise ratio (SDNR) than attenuation maps
Summary
X-ray phase contrast imaging (XPCi) has become an important tool for the nondestructive visualization of weakly attenuating samples as often encountered in biomedical applications. The dominant contrast mechanism is the phase shift of x-rays as they traverse a sample, as opposed to attenuation which is used in conventional radiography. Both effects are described by the complex refractive index: n(E) = 1 − δ(E) + iβ(E), (1). Several techniques have been demonstrated to be compatible with standard (nonmicrofocal) x-ray sources.. Several techniques have been demonstrated to be compatible with standard (nonmicrofocal) x-ray sources.9–13 This compatibility is crucial to meet the needs of many biological disciplines (e.g., small animal imaging), for example, to perform scans in standard research laboratories, fast, repeatedly, and with a high throughput Several techniques have been demonstrated to be compatible with standard (nonmicrofocal) x-ray sources. This compatibility is crucial to meet the needs of many biological disciplines (e.g., small animal imaging), for example, to perform scans in standard research laboratories, fast, repeatedly, and with a high throughput
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