Donepudi Venkateswara Rao

Computed tomography with image intensifier: imaging and characterization of materials

Computed tomographic images, nondestructive evaluation of materials of ceramics, electrical insulators, wood and other samples obtained, using a new tomographic system based on an image intensifier replacing earlier system (Cesareo et al., Nucl. Instr. and Meth. A 356 (1995) 573). It consists of a charge coupled device camera and an acquisition board. The charge coupled device and the acquisition board allows image processing, filtration and restoration. A reconstruction programme, written in PASCAL is able to give the reconstruction matrix of the linear attenuation coefficients, and simulates the matrix and the related tomography. The flux emitted by the tube is filtered using appropriate filters at chosen energy and reasonable monochromacy is achieved for all the images. The effect of collimators is also studied at various energies with filters and the optimum value is used for better image quality.

Use of synchrotron-based diffraction-enhanced imaging for visualization of soft tissues in invertebrates

Images of terrestrial and marine invertebrates (snails and bivalves) have been obtained by using an X-ray phase-contrast imaging technique, namely, synchrotron-based diffraction-enhanced imaging. Synchrotron X-rays of 20, 30 and 40keV were used, which penetrate deep enough into animal soft tissues. The phase of X-ray photons shifts slightly as they traverse an object, such as animal soft tissue, and interact with its atoms. Biological features, such as shell morphology and animal physiology, have been visualized. The contrast of the images obtained at 40keV is the best. This optimum energy provided a clear view of the internal structural organization of the soft tissue with better contrast. The contrast is higher at edges of internal soft-tissue structures. The image improvements achieved with the diffraction-enhanced imaging technique are due to extinction, i.e., elimination of ultra-small-angle scattering. They enabled us to identify a few embedded internal shell features, such as the origin of the apex, which is the firmly attached region of the soft tissue connecting the umbilicus to the external morphology. Diffraction-enhanced imaging can provide high-quality images of soft tissues valuable for biology.

Computed tomography with image intensifier: potential use for nondestructive testing and imaging of small objects

Abstract An image intensifier based computed tomography scanner and a tube source of X-rays are used for nondestructive evaluation, imaging of small objects for archaeological studies and conservation of works of art and micro analysis of soft materials. It consists of a charge coupled device (CCD) camera and an acquisition board. The CCD camera and the acquisition board allow image processing, filtration and restoration. The object is irradiated by an X-ray tube with a conical collimator and rotated on 180°. Projections are obtained at various angles as cross sectional image slices. A reconstruction program written in pascal is able to give the reconstruction matrix of the linear attenuation coefficients, simulates the matrix and related tomography. The flux emitted by the tube is filtered using the appropriate filters at the chosen optimum energy and reasonable monochromacy is achieved for all the images. Although X-ray imaging is a potential tool for strongly attenuating materials, the images of weakly attenuating materials provide new information to know about their structure and also the foreign body for the image reconstruction at an optimum value. The image of the plastic material which contains the internal defect is studied thoroughly at the optimum value in order to image the small objects for nondestructive testing, archaeological studies and conservation of works of art. The images are analysed using the profile data showing the internal defect of the object to obtain information at the optimum value. At the optimum value and with the aid of the tomographic image, the size and location of the defect could be ascertained.

Images of soft materials: a 3D visualization of interior of the sample in terms of attenuation coefficient

Images of soft materials are obtained using image intensifier based X-ray system (Rao et al., Nucl. Instr. and Meth. A 437 (1999) 141). The interior of the soft material is visualized using the novel software in order to know the distribution of attenuation coefficient in terms of density. The novel software is based mainly on graphical library and applicable to several operating systems without any change. It can be applied to several applications starting from biomedical to industries, for example, quality control. The results for walnut and brew tooth are presented as a set of images from the internal parts of the sample. A description of the principal parameters required for tomographic visualization is given and some results based on this technique are reported and discussed.

Synchrotron-based x-ray fluorescence applied to invertebrates to investigate the role of essential trace elements in a biological process

The fluorescence spectra have been detected by exciting invertebrate individual structures, such as external shell, embedded soft-tissue and operculum, with 8, 10 and 12 keV synchrotron x-rays, to find out about the accumulation of trace elements and biological processes in a small animal shell. A new hard x-ray micro-spectroscopy beamline facility, X27A, available at National Synchrotron Light Source, Brookhaven National Laboratory, USA, was utilized. It provided the primary beam in a small spot of the order of ~10 μm, for focusing. With this spatial resolution and high flux throughput, the synchrotron-induced x-ray fluorescent intensities were measured using a liquid-nitrogen-cooled 13-element energy-dispersive high-purity germanium detector. The fluorescence spectrum arising from the sample as a whole was assessed. Calcium is predominant in these aquatic organisms and a normal constituent of all living matter. The percentage of calcium is lower in the soft tissue, as distinguished from other samples, and the contributions of Cu and Zn are considerable. The latter possibility is due to some ground-based minerals, which may enter the sample when it traverses the land, and get attached to the soft tissue. This way, the accumulation of biominerals will be enhanced in addition to the originally presented ones. The presence of other bioactive trace elements such as Ti, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Rb and Sr was observed in low proportions. Some of these trace elements, for example, Mn, Fe, Cu, Rb and Sr, may induce toxic effects and the other potentially toxic elements, Ni and As, induce disorder in the organism if present in higher and lower proportions.

Doppler Broadening Calculations of Compton Scattering for Molecules, Plastics, Tissues, and Few Biological Materials in the X-Ray Region: An Analysis in Terms of Compton Broadening and Geometrical Energy Broadening

Relativistic and nonrelativistic Compton profile cross sections for H, C, N, O, P, and Ca and for a few important biological materials such as water, polyethylene, lucite, polystyrene, nylon, polycarbonate, bakelite, fat, bone and calcium hydroxyapatite are estimated for a number of Kα x-ray energies and for 59.54 keV (Am-241) γ photons. Energy broadening and geometrical broadening (ΔG) is estimated by assuming θmin and θmax are symmetrically situated around θ=90°. FWHM of J(PZ) and FWHM of Compton energy broadening are evaluated at various incident photon energies. These values are estimated around the centroid of the Compton profile with an energy interval of 0.1 and 1.0 keV for 59.54 keV photons. Total Compton, individual shell, and Compton energy–absorption scattering cross sections are evaluated in the energy region from 0.005 to 0.5 MeV. It is an attempt to know the effect of Doppler broadening for single atoms, many of which constitute the biological materials.

Microtomography using a tube source of X-rays, a low-energy-resolution HPGe detector system and an array of detectors

A new microtomographic system has been assembled with a geometrical resolution of about 25–50 mm. This system is employed directly using the bremsstrahlung radiation and filtering the primary radiation with absorbers composed by an element. A reconstruction programme, written in PASCAL is able to give the reconstruction matrix of linear attenuation coefficients, simulates the matrix and the related tomography. Microtomography was studied thoroughly with different samples like acrylic cylinders containing internal W-wires of about 10 μm diameter, acrylic cylinders with holes of known diameters, small pencils with internal graphite, acrylic cylinders containing grains of soil and so on.

Synchrotron-based DEI for bio-imaging and DEI-CT to image phantoms with contrast agents

The introduction of water, physiological, or iodine as contrast agents is shown to enhance minute image features in synchrotron-based X-ray diffraction radiographic and tomographic imaging. Anatomical features of rat kidney, such as papillary ducts, ureter, renal artery and renal vein are clearly distinguishable. Olfactory bulb, olfactory tact, and descending bundles of the rat brain are visible with improved contrast.

Synchrotron-based scattered radiation from phantom materials used in X-ray CT

Synchrotron-based scattered radiation form low-contrast phantom materials prepared from polyethylene, polystyrene, nylon, and Plexiglas is used as test objects in X-ray CT was examined with 8, 10 and 12 keV X-rays. These phantom materials of medical interest will contains varying proportions of low atomic number elements. The assessment will allowed us to estimate the fluorescence to total scattered radiation. Detected the fluorescence spectra and the associated scattered radiation from calcium hydroxyapatite phantom with 8, 10 and 12 keV synchrotron X-rays. Samples with Bonefil (60% and 70% of calcium hydroxyapatite) and Bone cream (35 approximately 45% of calcium hydroxyapatite), were used. Utilized the X-ray micro-spectroscopy beamline facility, X27A, available at NSLS, BNL, USA. The primary beam with a spot size of the order of approximately 10 mum, has been used for focusing. With this spatial resolution and high flux throuput, the synchrotron-based scattered radiation from the phantom materials were measured using a liquid-nitrogen-cooled 13-element energy-dispersive high-purity germanium detector.

Images of Soft-bodied Animals with External Hard Shell: 3D Visualization of the Embedded Soft Tissue

Images of soft‐bodied animals (snails) of various types with external hard shell are obtained for 25, 27 and 29 keV synchrotron X‐rays. The SYRMEP facility at Elettra,Trieste, Italy and the associated detection system has been used for the image acquisition. The interior properties of the embedded soft tissue are analysed utilizing the software. From the reconstructed images, the soft tissue distribution, void spaces associated with the soft tissue and external hard shell are identified. 3D images are reconstructed at these energies and optimum energy is chosen based on the quality of the image for further analysis. The optimum energy allowed us to visualize the visibility of low absorbing details and interiror microstructure of the embedded soft tissue.