title: Hybrid system for simultaneous fluorescence and x-ray computed tomography.
abstract: A hybrid imaging system for simultaneous fluorescence tomography and X-ray computed tomography (XCT) of small animals has been developed and presented. The system capitalizes on the imaging power of a 360 ( degrees )-projection free-space fluorescence tomography system, implemented within a microcomputed tomography scanner. Image acquisition is based on techniques that automatically adjust a series of imaging parameters to offer a high dynamic range dataset. Image segmentation further allows the incorporation of structural priors in the optical reconstruction problem to improve the imaging performance. The functional system characteristics are showcased, and images from a brain imaging study are shown, which are reconstructed using XCT-derived priors into the optical forward problem.
authors.affiliation: Chair for Biological Imaging, Technical University Munich, 80333 Munich, Germany. ralf.schulz@helmholtz-muenchen.de
authors.forename: Ralf B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Schulz
authors.forename: Angelique
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ale
authors.forename: Athanasios
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sarantopoulos
authors.forename: Marcus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Freyer
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Soehngen
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zientkowska
authors.forename: Vasilis
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ntziachristos
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002138:Calibration; D004867:Equipment Design; D005453:Fluorescence; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D018511:Systems Integration; D055114:X-Ray Microtomography / Q000379:methods*