A 3D X-ray microtomographic system with CMOS image sensor

High resolution and three dimensional X-ray imaging is becoming more and more popular nowadays. An X-ray microtomographic system with CMOS image sensor has been developed. We have developed a novel area X-ray detector with cost-effective CMOS image sensor. The sensing area of the detector is 55 mm/spl times/55 mm and the light from the phosphor screen is collected to the CMOS image sensor by a carefully designed optical system. 6 lenses are assembled to reduce the radiation damage effect and increase the resolution and sensitivity. Microfocus X-ray tube which can reach up to 5 /spl mu/m of focal spot size and microprecision motor system which can move in x-y-z direction for both alignment and magnification and rotate the,object have been adopted. Conventional 3D cone-beam Feldkamp reconstruction algorithm was used and a human cancellous bone has been imaged with this system. Currently, the resolution of this system is about 40 /spl mu/m but the application in microtomography seems very promising using this CMOS X-ray detector.