Preclinical Dark-Field/Phase-Contrast Scanner Using X-ray Biprisms

This project will construct and analyze a working model preclinical dark fieldscatteringand phase contrast xray imaging apparatus within an academic setting at University of CaliforniaSan FranciscoThe developed system will be useful for quantitative imaging of tissues with microstructureand a prototype for small animal research and bone health diagnostics researchThe proposed methods offer a revolutionary innovation and will be a game changer in the advancement of the novel imaging methodologyTensor Tomography of Dark field Xray ScatterWhile conventional x ray images indicate the amount of radiation energy deposited in materials according to their density distributionx ray dark field techniques are sensitive to the variation in charge lateral to the ray pathon the nanometer scaleCertain featuressuch as tissues with microstructureproduce forward x ray scatterHighly oriented fibers produce distinct patterns of small angle scatterThe method uses an array of refractive x ray biprisms array and a commercial x ray sourceand a wellresearched method of post acquisition image analyticsPrevious phase and dark field radiography methods have demonstrated imaging of microstructure in tissuesbut suffer from long exposure timesThe method TFI uses no optics in the x ray beam between the sample and the detector and has the potential to be retrofittable to some existing CT systemsThe primary market for the developed system consists of research institutions who study small animals and excised tissuesThe later market is bone health clinics and hospitalsThe societal impact of this project could be significantas there is currently no low costhigh specificity imaging methods for pre symptomatic fibrotic lung tissue diseases This proposal addresses improvements in preclinical and diagnostic imaging by developing a method and apparatus to perform dark field and phase radiography in a laboratory settingAn established manufacturing process for x ray biprisms allows development and commercial production of x ray scanners for microstructure tissue research