X-Ray Computed Tomography (CT) for the Internal Quality Evaluation of Fresh Produce

Abstract

AbstractIt is mentioned in the introduction of this chapter that Computed Tomography (CT) scan is a method to take two-dimensional X-ray images of different slices of a body in order to produce a visual representation of its internal partsor organs. The core idea of this method is that the data collected from multiple X-ray images of a body can be used to reconstruct its internal structure in a computer. Then the main components of the CT device are introduced and explained, which include X-ray source, detectors, data acquisition, data processing and CT numbers. Since then, different generations of CT scans have been introduced from the beginning to the present, including rotate/translate, pencil beam; rotate/translate, narrow fan beam; rotate/rotate, wide fan beam; rotate/stationary; stationary/stationary, electron beam CT; helical or spiral; multiple detector array. Finally, three applications of CT scan on pear fruit have been done by the author and his colleagues that have evaluated the pear bruising due to quasi-static and impact load with CT scan and have investigated its relationship with some physical characteristics of pear.KeywordsComputed tomographyNondestructiveImpact loadQuasi-StaticPear fruit