A multiple detector array helical x-ray microtomography system for specimen imaging

An x-ray computed microtomography system for specimen and small animal imag ing was built and tested. The system used seventeen 48-mu m-wide detector a rrays (a charge coupled device camera) and helical acquisition techniques. Images were acquired using 540 rays/view and 400 views/2 pi rr. The modulat ion transfer function (MTF) of the computed tomography images demonstrated 50 mu m limiting resolution, with MTF> 10% for objects larger than 60 mu m (similar to 8.3 cycles/mm). While soft tissue discrimination was compromise d by a low signal-to-noise ratio, equine medullary bone core samples and th e murine skeleton were well visualized. The incorporation of multiple detec tor arrays provided a 17-fold improvement in x-ray efficiency, which is a v ery important step toward improving the potential of microtomography as a s cientific tool. (C) 1999 American Association of Physicists in Medicine. [S 0094-2405(99)03108-9].