Developmental Study of Very High Resolution Micro-focus X-ray Computed Tomography for Use in Medicine to Enable Acquisition of Images of Soft Tissues.

工业用极高分辨率微焦点X射线计算机层析成像(Micro-CT)的空间分辨率是医用CT的10.2~10.3倍，但两者的对比度分辨率较低且几乎相同，因此很难分辨出X射线吸收值几乎相同的软组织。如果这个问题被克服，它将使微型CT能够在广泛的医学研究中使用，例如从解剖学到临床调查。因此，试图通过使用像增强器的X射线检测系统来设计和制造用于医学研究的微CT系统的硬件和软件，该像增强器具有BE窗口作为其面传感器，而直接MOS图像传感器作为具有21位AD转换系统的线传感器，在过去使用传统的16位AD转换系统从未达到位深度。该系统还具有独特的功能，如减少X射线曝光和多轴工作台，以获得选项…更多的标本切片。我们已经尝试使用该系统获得连续切片，并生成解剖标本和医学标本的三维重建图像。利用解剖标本，我们成功地显示和分析了不对称共轭双胞胎的颅骨，特别是内耳、中耳和外耳部分，由于其复杂性，40多年来我们无法了解其结构。以往关于动脉的Micro-CT研究都是通过使用造影剂获得管型的研究，而对血管膜本身的研究从未见过。本文以一例草酸钙症患者截肢小腿为临床标本，首次证实了草酸钙晶体沉积引起的腓骨和胫动脉中膜钙化和病理改变。动脉硬化和糖尿病患者的动脉也被成像。糖尿病引起的动脉硬化症患者的动脉也被成像。作为Micro-CT医学应用的一个例子，我们证明了Micro-CT在获取软组织钙化部分的信息方面是有用的，尽管由于钙化部分的硬度、脆性或在处理过程中的溶解而难以获得钙化部分的常规组织切片。我们还描述了Micro-CT作为X射线影像解剖工具和未来实用医疗设备的意义和技术改进。较少

Very high resolution micro-focus X-ray computed tomography, so called micro-CT, for industrial use has 10^2〜10^3 times greater spatial resolution than medical CT, however, the contrast resolution of both is low and nearly the same, making it difficult to resolve soft tissues that have nearly the same X-ray absorption values. If this problem were overcoming it would enable micro-CT to be used in a broad range of medical studies, from anatomy to clinical investigations, for example. An attempt was therefore made to design and manufacture both the hard- and soft-ware of a micro-CT system for medical study by using X-ray detection system of an image intensifier having a Be-window as its area sensor, which is never employed for micro-CT, and a direct MOS image sensor as a line sensor with a 21-bit AD conversion system, a bit-depth never achieved in the past with the conventional 16-bits. The system also unique features, such as reducing X-ray exposure and a multi-axis stage to obtain option … More al sections of the specimen.We have tried using this system to obtain continuous sections and produce 3D-reconstruction images of anatomical specimens and medical specimens. Using anatomical specimens, we successfully visualized and analyzed the cranium of asymmetric conjugated twins, especially the inner, middle, and external ear portions, whose structure it was been impossible to know for over forty years because its complexity.All previous reports on arteries employing micro-CT were studies of casts obtained by using contrast medium, and there had never been a study of the tunica vasculosa itself. By using the amputated crus from a patient of oxalosis as a clinical specimen, however, the calcification and pathology of the tunica media of the peroneal and tibial artery caused by deposition of calcium oxalate crystals was identified for the first time. The arteries of patients with arteriosclerosis and diabetes have also been imaged. The arteries of patients with arteriosclerosis caused by diabetes have also been imaged. As an example of the medical applications of micro-CT, we demonstrate that micro-CT is useful in obtaining information on the calcified part of soft tissues, although it is difficult to obtain conventional histological sections of calcified arteries because of the loss of calcified parts because of their hardness and fragility or because of dissolution during processing.We also describe the meaning and technical improvements in micro-CT as a tool for X-ray imaging anatomy and as practical medical equipment for the future. Less