Acquisition of Skyscan 1173 Micro-CT
January 2, 2016
Metairie, LA — November 12, 2012 — The Fellowship of Orthopaedic Researchers is pleased to announce the acquisition of a Skyscan 1173 X-ray microtomography (micro-CT) system. Through the generosity of the Marshall Heritage Foundation, FOR was able to acquire a high-resolution micro-CT to build upon FOR’s extensive orthopaedic research, development, and testing capabilities.
X-ray microtomography (micro-CT) uses a similar technique as the X-ray computed tomographic (CT) systems used in medicine but with much finer resolution. Multiple 2D X-ray images are stored while either the sample or the source/detector pair is rotated. Internal structures are reconstructed as a series of 2D cross-sections which are then used to analyze the two- and three-dimensional morphological parameters of the object. The process is nondestructive and requires no special preparation of the specimen. For comparison, while medical CT systems have pixel sizes in the range of 1mm, the Skyscan 1173 Micro-CT can acquire images down to 4µm in resolution.
Micro-CT is used in a wide range of applications: 3D bone analysis, food studies, soft tissue research, insects, microelectronics, materials, geological studies and more. Specialized software that is part of the 1173 system has been developed for the analysis of Micro-CT images including bone morphometry, porosity, fractal analysis and more.
The Skyscan 1173 has a 130 kV X-ray source and a 7µm 3-D spatial resolution. The large specimen chamber can accommodate objects up to 140mm in diameter and 200mm in length. The x-ray camera achieves a resolution of 5Mp (2240×2240 pixel flat panel detector). The high kV source, as well as large chamber and field of view, make the Skyscan 1173 ideal for the imaging of relatively large and dense samples, like specimens with embedded orthopaedic implants.
The SkyScan 1173 software is capable of analyzing micro-CT datasets for morphometry and densitometry. Capabilities include:
- Import of dataset in tiff, bmp, jpg
- Angular resampling of datasets
- Advanced volume-of-interest (VOI) selection tool
- Measures 3D distances and angles
- Creates Maximum Intensity Projection (MIP) images
- Calibrates and measures density as HU, BMD or attenuation coefficient
- Image processing functions, such as smooth, despeckle morphologic operations, etc.
- Switch between general scientific and bone morphometry parameter names
Parameters measured in 2D and 3D include:
- Object (pore, particle, etc.) or “bone” volume
- Object or “bone” surface
- Structure or “trabecular” thickness
- Structure or “trabecular” separation, number
- Structure model index (SMI)
- Fragmentation index or “Trabecular pattern factor”
- Euler number o Degree of anisotropy by MIL
- MIL eigenvalues and stereology
- Fractal dimension (Kolmogorov)
- Moments of inertia (x, y, polar, product)
- Eccentricity
- Cortical periosteal perimeter (outer perimeter of tube)
- Cortical endosteal perimeter (inner perimeter of tube)
- Object or “bone” porosity
- Automated batch analysis
Click here for additional information about the SkyScan 1173.