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Peiffer C, Brombal L, Maughan Jones CJ, Arfelli F, Astolfo A, Dreossi D, Endrizzi M, Hagen CK, Mazzolani A, Menk R, Rigon L, Olivo A, Munro PRT. On the equivalence of the X-ray scattering retrieval with beam tracking and analyser-based imaging using a synchrotron source. JOURNAL OF PHYSICS D: APPLIED PHYSICS 2023; 56:45LT02. [PMID: 37601626 PMCID: PMC10437003 DOI: 10.1088/1361-6463/acee8c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2023] [Revised: 07/25/2023] [Accepted: 08/09/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023]
Abstract
X-ray phase contrast imaging (XPCI) methods give access to contrast mechanisms that are based on the refractive properties of matter on top of the absorption coefficient in conventional x-ray imaging. Ultra small angle x-ray scattering (USAXS) is a phase contrast mechanism that arises due to multiple refraction events caused by physical features of a scale below the physical resolution of the used imaging system. USAXS contrast can therefore give insight into subresolution structural information, which is an ongoing research topic in the vast field of different XPCI techniques. In this study, we quantitatively compare the USAXS signal retrieved by the beam tracking XPCI technique with the gold standard of the analyzer based imaging XPCI technique using a synchrotron x-ray source. We find that, provided certain conditions are met, the two methods measure the same quantity.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Peiffer
- Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, University College London, Gower Street, WC1E 6BT London, United Kingdom
| | - L Brombal
- Department of Physics, University of Trieste, Via Valerio 2, 34127 Trieste, Italy
- Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Trieste, Via Valerio 2, 34127 Trieste, Italy
| | - C J Maughan Jones
- Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, University College London, Gower Street, WC1E 6BT London, United Kingdom
| | - F Arfelli
- Department of Physics, University of Trieste, Via Valerio 2, 34127 Trieste, Italy
- Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Trieste, Via Valerio 2, 34127 Trieste, Italy
| | - A Astolfo
- Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, University College London, Gower Street, WC1E 6BT London, United Kingdom
| | - D Dreossi
- Elettra Sincrotrone Trieste SCpA, S. S. 14 km 163.5, 34012 Basovizza (TS), Italy
| | - M Endrizzi
- Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, University College London, Gower Street, WC1E 6BT London, United Kingdom
| | - C K Hagen
- Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, University College London, Gower Street, WC1E 6BT London, United Kingdom
| | - A Mazzolani
- Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, University College London, Gower Street, WC1E 6BT London, United Kingdom
| | - R Menk
- Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Trieste, Via Valerio 2, 34127 Trieste, Italy
- Elettra Sincrotrone Trieste SCpA, S. S. 14 km 163.5, 34012 Basovizza (TS), Italy
- Department of Computer and Electrical Engineering, Midsweden University, Sundsvall, Sweden
| | - L Rigon
- Department of Physics, University of Trieste, Via Valerio 2, 34127 Trieste, Italy
- Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Trieste, Via Valerio 2, 34127 Trieste, Italy
| | - A Olivo
- Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, University College London, Gower Street, WC1E 6BT London, United Kingdom
| | - P R T Munro
- Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, University College London, Gower Street, WC1E 6BT London, United Kingdom
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Viermetz M, Gustschin N, Schmid C, Haeusele J, Noel PB, Proksa R, Loscher S, Koehler T, Pfeiffer F. Technical Design Considerations of a Human-Scale Talbot-Lau Interferometer for Dark-Field CT. IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON MEDICAL IMAGING 2023; 42:220-232. [PMID: 36112565 DOI: 10.1109/tmi.2022.3207579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Computed tomography (CT) as an important clinical diagnostics method can profit from extension with dark-field imaging, as it is currently restricted to X-rays' attenuation contrast only. Dark-field imaging allows access to more tissue properties, such as micro-structural texture or porosity. The up-scaling process to clinical scale is complex because several design constraints must be considered. The two most important ones are that the finest grating is limited by current manufacturing technology to a [Formula: see text] period and that the interferometer should fit into the CT gantry with minimal modifications only. In this work we discuss why an inverse interferometer and a triangular G1 profile are advantageous and make a compact and sensitive interferometer implementation feasible. Our evaluation of the triangular grating profile reveals a deviation in the interference pattern compared to standard grating profiles, which must be considered in the subsequent data processing. An analysis of the grating orientation demonstrates that currently only a vertical layout can be combined with cylindrical bending of the gratings. We also provide an in-depth discussion, including a new simulation approach, of the impact of the extended X-ray source spot which can lead to large performance loss and present supporting experimental results. This analysis reveals a vastly increased sensitivity to geometry and grating period deviations, which must be considered early in the system design process.
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Sunaguchi N, Huang Z, Shimao D, Ichihara S, Nishimura R, Iwakoshi A, Yuasa T, Ando M. Crystal optics simulations for delineation of the three-dimensional cellular nuclear distribution using analyzer-based refraction-contrast computed tomography. Sci Rep 2022; 12:19595. [PMID: 36380223 PMCID: PMC9666655 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-24249-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2022] [Accepted: 11/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Refraction-contrast computed tomography (RCT) using a refractive angle analyzer of Si perfect crystal can reconstruct the three-dimensional structure of biological soft tissue with contrast comparable to that of stained two-dimensional pathological images. However, the blurring of X-ray beam by the analyzer has prevented improvement of the spatial resolution of RCT, and the currently possible observation of tissue structure at a scale of approximately 20 µm provides only limited medical information. As in pathology, to differentiate between benign and malignant forms of cancer, it is necessary to observe the distribution of the cell nucleus, which is approximately 5-10 µm in diameter. In this study, based on the X-ray dynamical diffraction theory using the Takagi-Taupin equation, which calculates the propagation of X-ray energy in crystals, an analyzer crystal optical system depicting the distribution of cell nuclei was investigated by RCT imaging simulation experiments in terms of the thickness of the Laue-case analyzer, the camera pixel size and the difference in spatial resolution between the Bragg-case and Laue-case analyzers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naoki Sunaguchi
- grid.27476.300000 0001 0943 978XDepartment of Radiological and Medical Laboratory Sciences, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Zhuoran Huang
- grid.27476.300000 0001 0943 978XDepartment of Radiological and Medical Laboratory Sciences, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Daisuke Shimao
- grid.444700.30000 0001 2176 3638Department of Radiological Technology, Hokkaido University of Science, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Shu Ichihara
- grid.410840.90000 0004 0378 7902Department of Pathology, Clinical Research Center, Nagoya Medical Center, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Rieko Nishimura
- grid.410840.90000 0004 0378 7902Department of Pathology, Clinical Research Center, Nagoya Medical Center, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Akari Iwakoshi
- grid.410840.90000 0004 0378 7902Department of Pathology, Clinical Research Center, Nagoya Medical Center, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Tetsuya Yuasa
- grid.268394.20000 0001 0674 7277Graduate School of Engineering and Science, Yamagata University, Yonezawa, Japan
| | - Masami Ando
- grid.410794.f0000 0001 2155 959XHigh Energy Accelerator Research Organization, Tsukuba, Japan
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Diffraction Enhanced Imaging Analysis with Pseudo-Voigt Fit Function. J Imaging 2022; 8:jimaging8080206. [PMID: 35893084 PMCID: PMC9330705 DOI: 10.3390/jimaging8080206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2022] [Revised: 07/20/2022] [Accepted: 07/21/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Diffraction enhanced imaging (DEI) is an advanced digital radiographic imaging technique employing the refraction of X-rays to contrast internal interfaces. This study aims to qualitatively and quantitatively evaluate images acquired using this technique and to assess how different fitting functions to the typical rocking curves (RCs) influence the quality of the images. RCs are obtained for every image pixel. This allows the separate determination of the absorption and the refraction properties of the material in a position-sensitive manner. Comparison of various types of fitting functions reveals that the Pseudo-Voigt (PsdV) function is best suited to fit typical RCs. A robust algorithm was developed in the Python programming language, which reliably extracts the physically meaningful information from each pixel of the image. We demonstrate the potential of the algorithm with two specimens: a silicone gel specimen that has well-defined interfaces, and an additively manufactured polycarbonate specimen.
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Ton N, Goncin U, Panahifar A, Webb MA, Chapman D, Wiebe S, Machtaler S. Developing a Microbubble-Based Contrast Agent for Synchrotron Multiple-Image Radiography. Mol Imaging Biol 2022; 24:590-599. [PMID: 35137326 DOI: 10.1007/s11307-022-01705-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2021] [Revised: 01/04/2022] [Accepted: 01/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Multiple-image radiography (MIR) is an analyzer-based synchrotron X-ray imaging approach capable of dissociating absorption, refraction, and scattering components of X-ray interaction with the material. It generates additional image contrast mechanisms (besides absorption), especially in the case of soft tissues, while minimizing absorbed radiation dose. Our goal is to develop a contrast agent for MIR using ultrasound microbubbles by carrying out a systematic assessment of size, shell material, and concentration. PROCEDURES Microbubbles were synthesized with two different shell materials: phospholipid and polyvinyl-alcohol. Polydisperse perfluorobutane-filled lipid microbubbles were divided into five size groups using centrifugation. Two distributions of air-filled polymer microbubbles were generated: 2-3 µm and 3-4 µm. A subset of polymer microbubbles 3-4 µm had iron oxide nanoparticles incorporated into their shell or coated on their surface. Microbubbles were immobilized in agar with different concentrations: 5 × 107, 5 × 106, and 5 × 105 MBs/ml. MIR was conducted on the BioMedical Imaging and Therapy beamline at the Canadian Light Source. Three images were generated: Gaussian amplitude, refraction, and ultra-small-angle X-ray scattering (USAXS). The contrast signal was quantified by measuring mean pixel values and comparing them with agar. RESULTS No difference was detected in absorption or refraction images of all tested microbubbles. Using USAXS, a significant signal increase was observed with lipid microbubbles 6-10 µm at the highest concentration (p = 0.02), but no signal was observed at lower concentrations. CONCLUSIONS These data indicate that lipid microbubbles 6-10 µm are candidates as contrast agents for MIR, specifically for USAXS. A minimum concentration of 5 × 107 microbubbles (lipid-shell 6-10 µm) per milliliter was needed to generate a detectable signal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ngoc Ton
- Department of Medical Imaging, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - Una Goncin
- Department of Medical Imaging, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - Arash Panahifar
- Department of Medical Imaging, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
- Canadian Light Source, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - M Adam Webb
- Canadian Light Source, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - Dean Chapman
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
- Canadian Light Source, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - Sheldon Wiebe
- Department of Medical Imaging, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - Steven Machtaler
- Department of Medical Imaging, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.
- University of Saskatchewan, 107 Wiggins Rd, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, S7N 5E5, Canada.
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Chalmers MC, Kitchen MJ, Uesugi K, Falzon G, Quin P, Pavlov KM. Tomographic reconstruction using tilted Laue analyser-based X-ray phase-contrast imaging. JOURNAL OF SYNCHROTRON RADIATION 2021; 28:283-291. [PMID: 33399579 DOI: 10.1107/s1600577520013995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2020] [Accepted: 10/20/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Analyser-based phase-contrast imaging (ABPCI) is a highly sensitive phase-contrast imaging method that produces high-contrast images of weakly absorbing materials. However, it is only sensitive to phase gradient components lying in the diffraction plane of the analyser crystal [i.e. in one dimension (1-D)]. In order to accurately account for and measure phase effects produced by the wavefield-sample interaction, ABPCI and other 1-D phase-sensitive methods must achieve 2-D phase gradient sensitivity. An inclined geometry method was applied to a Laue geometry setup for X-ray ABPCI through rotation of the detector and object about the optical axis. This allowed this traditionally 1-D phase-sensitive phase-contrast method to possess 2-D phase gradient sensitivity. Tomographic datasets were acquired over 360° of a multi-material phantom with the detector and sample tilted by 8°. The real and imaginary parts of the refractive index were reconstructed for the phantom.
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Affiliation(s)
- M C Chalmers
- University of Canterbury, 20 Kirkwood Avenue, Upper Riccarton, Christchurch 8041, New Zealand
| | - M J Kitchen
- Monash University, Wellington Road, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia
| | - K Uesugi
- Japan Synchrotron Radiation Research Institute, 1-1-1 Kouto, Sayo-cho, Sayo-gun, Hyogo 679-5198, Japan
| | - G Falzon
- College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia 5001, Australia
| | - P Quin
- University of New England, Armidale, NSW 2351, Australia
| | - K M Pavlov
- University of Canterbury, 20 Kirkwood Avenue, Upper Riccarton, Christchurch 8041, New Zealand
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Gureyev TE, Paganin DM, Arhatari B, Taba ST, Lewis S, Brennan PC, Quiney HM. Dark-field signal extraction in propagation-based phase-contrast imaging. Phys Med Biol 2020; 65:215029. [PMID: 32756030 DOI: 10.1088/1361-6560/abac9d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
A method for extracting the dark-field signal in propagation-based phase-contrast imaging is proposed. In the case of objects consisting predominantly of a single material, or several different materials with similar ratios of the real decrement to the imaginary part of the complex refractive index, the proposed method requires a single image for extraction of the dark-field signal in two-dimensional projection imaging. In the case of three-dimensional tomographic imaging, the method needs only one image to be collected at each projection angle. Initial examples using simulated and experimental data indicate that this method can improve visualization of small sharp features inside a larger object, e.g. the visualization of microcalcifications in propagation-based x-ray breast cancer imaging. It is suggested that the proposed approach may be useful in other forms of biomedical imaging, where it can help one to obtain additional small-angle scattering information without increasing the radiation dose to the sample.
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Affiliation(s)
- T E Gureyev
- School of Physics, The University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, Australia. Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Sydney, Lidcombe 2141, Australia. School of Physics and Astronomy, Monash University, Clayton 3800, Australia. School of Science and Technology, University of New England, Armidale 2351, Australia
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