High Resolution Microtomograph (Micro-CT)

Alexander Sasov

SkyScan, Vluchtenburgstraat 3, Aartselaar B-2630, Belgium, skyscan@skynet.be

ABSTRACT

For many years scientists have worked with various microscopy methods, starting with optical going to electron and x-ray microscopy, AFM and scanning probe microscopy etc. These currently known and commonly used microscopic techniques have one common limitation: they give no information about internal structures of the investigated object. Except for x-ray, they can only visualize the surface of the specimens. If three-dimensional images from internal structures are required they become destructive. X-ray microtomograph or micro-CT is an instrument that allows looking, with high spatial resolution, inside an object and thus creating three-dimensional images without any destruction or time-consuming specimen preparation. By using high technology the microtomograph has been created as a simply usable, desktop instrument.

Keywords X-ray, tomography, Micro-CT, reconstruction algorithms