Desktop Microtomography with A CMOS Pixel Detector

Recent developments both in the microfocus X-ray source and the large-area pixel detector have brought out a cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) with the resolving power of the order of tens of micrometers, called microtomography (micro-CT). Although the micro-CT shares the same technology with the conventional CT (and therefore the technology is not novel), new potential applications in biological as well as materials sciences is great. This study is aimed at developing a cost-effective miniaturized micro-CT system. The eventual purpose is to apply it to small-animal imaging. Detailed system design and configuration are presented. The potential performance of the system is demonstrated with the initially acquired both radiographs and tomograms