Portable 3-D computed tomography system

Through a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement between Los Alamos National Laboratory and HYTEC, Inc., a portable 3-D Computed Tomography (CT) system has been developed that dramatically reduces the overall complexity and time-to-completion for performing CT studies. The system incorporates an amorphous silicon flat-panel detector, coupled motion control and state of the art software to produce high quality CT results. All alignment, image calibration and radiation exposure monitoring is handled in software, thereby, eliminating the need for precise mechanical positioning during setup or a highly stable source of radiation. The image acquisition hardware occupies a minimal 30-inch x 48-inch footprint and is mounted on a portable cart for transportation between multiple X-ray sites. The software is built on the Windows NT/2K operating system for maximum flexibility in today's industry, and offers an unprecedented user interface designed for technicians and operators who have minimal computer training. Multiple reconstruction methods (parallel, fan and cone beam) are provided and can be run in a parallel-processed mode on any number of Windows NT/2K computers to decrease reconstruction time. Visualization software offers 2-D and 3-D viewing including slice animation and volume rendering of entire objects

Large area detector based computed tomography system for production nondestructive evaluation.

We present a system for industrial x-ray computed tomography that has been optimized for all phases of nondestructive component inspection. Data acquisition is greatly enhanced by the use of high resolution, large area, flat-panel amorphous-silicon detectors. The detectors have proven, over several years, to be a robust alternative to CCD-optics and image intensifier CT systems. In addition to robustness, these detectors provide the advantage of area detection as compared with the single slice geometry of linear array systems. Parallel processing provides significant speed improvements for data reconstruction, and is implemented for parallel-beam, fan-beam and Feldkamp conebeam reconstruction algorithms. By clustering ten or more equal-speed computers, reconstruction times are reduced by an order of magnitude. We have also developed interactive software for visualization and interrogation of the full three-dimensional dataset. Inspection examples presented in this paper include an electro-mechanical device, nonliving biological specimens and a turbo-machinery component. We also present examples of everyday items for the benefit of the layperson

Further advancements for large area-detector based computed tomography system

We present advancements made to a large area-detector based system for industrial x-ray computed tomography. Past performance improvements in data acquisition speeds were made by use of high-resolution large area, flat-panel amorphous-silicon (a-Si) detectors. The detectors have proven, over several years, to be a robust alternative to CCD-optics and image intensifier CT systems. These detectors also provide the advantage of area detection as compared with the single slice geometry of linear array systems. New advancements in this system include parallel processing of sinogram reconstructions, improved visualization software and migration to frame-rate a-Si detectors. Parallel processing provides significant speed improvements for data reconstruction, and is implemented for parallel-beam, fan-beam and Feldkamp cone-beam reconstruction algorithms. Reconstruction times are reduced by an order of magnitude by use of a cluster of ten or more equal-speed computers. Advancements in data visualization are made through interactive software, which allows interrogation of the full three-dimensional dataset. Inspection examples presented in this paper include an electromechanical device, a nonliving biological specimen and a press-cast plastic specimen. We also present a commonplace item for the benefit of the layperson