Lewis R A, Hall C J, Hufton A P, Evans S, Menk R H, Arfelli F, Rigon L, Tromba G, Dance D R, Ellis I O, Evans A, Jacobs E, Pinder S E, Rogers K D
Daresbury Laboratory, Warrington WA4 4AD, UK.
Br J Radiol. 2003 May;76(905):301-8. doi: 10.1259/bjr/32889803.
The purpose of this study was to explore the potential of refraction contrast X-ray imaging of biological tissues. Images of dissected mouse lungs, heart, liver and legs were produced using the medical beamline at the Elettra Synchrotron at Trieste, Italy. The technique used was diffraction enhanced imaging. This utilizes a silicon crystal positioned between the tissue sample and the detector to separate refracted X-rays from transmitted and scattered radiation by Bragg diffraction. The contrast in the images produced is related to changes in the X-ray refractive index of the tissues, resulting in remarkable clarity compared with conventional X-ray images based on absorption effects. These changes were greatest at the boundaries between different tissues, giving a marked edge enhancement effect and three-dimensional appearance to the images. The technique provides a way of imaging a property of biological tissues not yet exploited, and further studies are planned to identify specific applications in medical imaging.
本研究的目的是探索生物组织折射对比X射线成像的潜力。利用意大利的里雅斯特市埃莱特拉同步加速器的医用光束线，生成了小鼠肺部、心脏、肝脏和腿部的解剖图像。所使用的技术是衍射增强成像。该技术利用置于组织样本和探测器之间的硅晶体，通过布拉格衍射将折射的X射线与透射和散射辐射分离。所生成图像中的对比度与组织的X射线折射率变化有关，与基于吸收效应的传统X射线图像相比，清晰度显著提高。这些变化在不同组织的边界处最为明显，使图像具有明显的边缘增强效果和三维外观。该技术提供了一种对生物组织尚未被利用的特性进行成像的方法，并且计划进一步开展研究以确定其在医学成像中的具体应用。
