Micro-computed tomography

Abstract

Micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) provides high-resolution three-dimensional (3D) geometry and density information for the analysis of biological materials, and is particularly well-suited for bone research. These detailed 3D data have provided significant insights into issues surrounding bone quality, and the recent advancement of this technology now provides the opportunity to perform these measurements in living subjects, including both experimental animal models and direct patient measurements. This chapter reviews the fundamental principles of micro-CT and caveats related to its use. It describes the current approaches for analyzing these rich 3D datasets, as well as leading-edge developments. These include analysis techniques such as structure classification, image registration, image-guided failure analysis, extrapolation of structure from time series, and high-throughput approaches for morphological analysis. © 2009 Springer Berlin Heidelberg.