Abstract
A microcomputed tomography (micro-CT) scanner, which generates three- dimensional (3-D) images consisting of up to a billion cubic voxels, each 5- 25 μm on a side, and which has isotropic spatial resolution, is described. Its main components are a spectroscopic X-ray source that produces selectable primary emission peaks at ~9, 18, or 25 keV and a fluorescing thin crystal plate that is imaged (at selectable magnification) with a lens onto a 2.5 x 2.5-cm, 1,024 x 1,024-pixel, charge-coupled device (CCD) detector array. The specimen is positioned close to the crystal and is rotated in 721 equiangular steps around 360°between each X-ray exposure and its CCD recording. Tomographic reconstruction algorithms, applied to these recorded images, are used to generate 3-D images of the specimen. The system is used to scan isolated, intact, fixed rodent organs (e.g., heart or kidney) with the image contrast of vessel lumens enhanced with contrast medium. 3-D image display and analysis are used to address physiological questions about the internal structure-to-function relationships of the organs.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | H1103-H1114 |
Journal | American Journal of Physiology - Heart and Circulatory Physiology |
Volume | 275 |
Issue number | 3 44-3 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 1998 |
Keywords
- Basic functional unit
- Branching geometry
- Microcomputed tomography
- Microvasculature
- Muscle fiber
- Nephron
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Physiology
- Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine
- Physiology (medical)