High-Resolution X-Ray Computed Tomography Systems for Science, Medicine and Industry

X射线计算机断层扫描（CT）以其在医学诊断中的作用而闻名，但在过去十年中，它也成为跨越科学，医学和工业的广泛领域的关键技术。由于X射线穿透厚样品并提供高分辨率信息的能力，CT是非常通用的。然而，对于某些“具有挑战性”的样品，可能难以实现良好的对比度，特别是当样品仅具有弱的固有X射线衰减或当其由具有非常相似的衰减的材料组成时。此外，实现一个高的空间分辨率（即能够检测到小细节的样品）往往只能通过很长的扫描时间，限制了吞吐量的method.Aims和ObjectivesThis项目旨在开发新的方法，以断层X射线成像的目标是在适应更广泛的样品和成像任务，从而增加了技术的应用半径，并最终影响。一个具体的重点将是创新的高分辨率方法的发展，包括跨长度尺度，并涉及互补的对比模式（相位对比），这是已知的提供上级对比度的样品与弱衰减对比。另一个重点将是开发高分辨率成像的快速方法，以提高该方法的吞吐量。这项研究将建立在UCL医学物理和生物医学工程系先进X射线成像组开发的创新采集技术基础上。具体而言，该项目旨在进一步开发摆线采样方案，通过该方案可以以连续（“飞扫描”）方式收集数据，并且已知该方案能够实现比步进采集所需的扫描时间短得多的扫描时间。该项目将调查摆线原理在多大程度上适用于高分辨率（几微米）。研究方法的新奇该项目将把联合收割机最先进的相衬成像技术与新颖的采集方案相结合。图像处理方法的创新方法（高级相位检索、迭代图像重建、基于机器学习的处理，例如，除噪）将被开发和/或集成到成像管道中，以最大限度地提高从数据中提取的信息，并为各种样本重建高质量的图像。与EPSRC的战略和研究领域保持一致计划中的研究涵盖EPSRC的主题工程，物理科学和医疗保健技术。CT技术在广泛的科学领域中的推动作用也意味着该项目符合EPSRC的战略优先事项，即使英国成为“物理和数学科学强国”。任何参与的公司或合作者先进X射线成像组与几个行业合作伙伴合作，包括尼康X-Tek系统，ISDI，Scintacor和量子探测器。其他合作伙伴包括瑞士联邦材料科学与技术实验室和三个同步加速器（Diamond、Elettra和ESRF）。

Brief description of the context of the research including potential impactX-ray Computed Tomography (CT) is best known for its role in medical diagnostics, but over the last decade has also emerged as a key technology in a breadth of sectors spanning across science, medicine, and industry. CT is extremely versatile, due to the ability of x-rays to penetrate thick samples and provide high-resolution information. However, for certain "challenging" samples it can be hard to achieve a good contrast, especially when a sample features only weak intrinsic x-ray attenuation or when it is composed of materials with very similar attenuation. Furthermore, achieving a high spatial resolution (that is, the ability to detect small details in a sample) is often only possible through very long scan times, limiting the throughput of the method.Aims and ObjectivesThis project seeks to develop new approaches to tomographic x-ray imaging targeted at accommodating an wider range of samples and imaging tasks, thereby increasing the technology's application radius and, ultimately, impact. A specific focus will be the development of innovative high-resolution approaches, including across length scales, and involving complementary contrast modes (phase contrast), which are known to provide superior contrast for samples with weak attenuation contrast. Another key focus will be the development of fast approaches to high-resolution imaging to increase the throughput capabilities of the method. The research will build on innovative acquisition techniques developed by UCL's Advanced X-Ray Imaging group in UCL's Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering. Specifically, the project seeks to further develop a cycloidal sampling scheme by which data can be collected in a continuous ("fly scan") manner and which is known to enable much shorter scan times than needed for a stepped acquisition. The project will investigate to which extent the cycloidal principles apply at high resolution (a few micrometres).Novelty of Research MethodologyThe project will combine state-the-art phase contrast imaging technology with novel acquisition schemes. Innovative approaches to image processing methods (advanced phase retrieval, iterative image reconstruction, machine learning based processing, e.g., denoising) will be developed and/or integrated into the imaging pipeline alongside this to maximise the information that can be extracted from the data and reconstruct high quality images for a wide range of samples.Alignment to EPSRC's strategies and research areasThe planned research spans across the EPSRC's themes engineering, physical sciences and healthcare technologies. The enabling role of CT technology in a breadth of scientific areas also means the project aligns with of EPSRC's strategic priority of making the UK a "physical and mathematical sciences powerhouse".Any companies or collaborators involvedThe Advanced X-Ray Imaging group works with several industry partners including Nikon X-Tek Systems, ISDI, Scintacor, and Quantum Detectors. Other partners include the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology and three synchrotrons (Diamond, Elettra and the ESRF).