title: Spatial resolution characterization of a X-ray microCT system.
abstract: We report on an experimental characterization of the spatial resolution of a commercial X-ray micro-computed tomography scanner. We have measured the full modulation transfer function (MTF) to assess the spatial resolution. The MTF and those spatial frequencies corresponding to a contrast loss of 50% were determined as a function of different applied X-ray tube parameters and magnification-dependent pixel sizes. A significant influence of the focal spot enlargement on the achievable spatial resolution could be shown. Our results allow for the designation of optimal X-ray tube parameters for a specific application requirement.
authors.affiliation: Lehrstuhl für Biomedizinische Physik, Physik-Departement & Institut für Medizintechnik, Technische Universität München, D-85748 Garching, Germany.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rueckel
authors.affiliation: Lehrstuhl für Biomedizinische Physik, Physik-Departement & Institut für Medizintechnik, Technische Universität München, D-85748 Garching, Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stockmar
authors.affiliation: Lehrstuhl für Biomedizinische Physik, Physik-Departement & Institut für Medizintechnik, Technische Universität München, D-85748 Garching, Germany.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pfeiffer
authors.affiliation: Lehrstuhl für Biomedizinische Physik, Physik-Departement & Institut für Medizintechnik, Technische Universität München, D-85748 Garching, Germany. Electronic address: julia.herzen@tum.de.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Herzen
mesh_terms: D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D011857:Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods
keywords: General electric; MTF; Micro-CT; Spatial resolution; X-ray imaging