Two versions of a new high-resolution x-ray computed tomography system are
being developed to screen mutagenized mice in the Oak Ridge National Labora
tory Mammalian Genetics Research Facility. The first prototype employs a si
ngle-pixel cadmium zinc telluride detector with a pinhole collimator operat
ing in pulse counting mode. The second version employs a phosphor screen/CC
D detector operating in current mode. The major system hardware includes a
low-energy x-ray tube, two linear translation stages and a rotational stage
. For the single-pixel detector, image resolution is determined by the step
size of the detector stage; preliminary images have been acquired at 100 I
rm and 250 mu m resolutions. The resolution of the phosphor screen detector
Is determined by the modulation transfer function of the phosphor screen;
images with resolutions approaching 50 mu m have been acquired. The system
performance with the two detectors is described and recent images are prese
nted.