Research applications using Micro-CT and Nano-CT

Micro-CT and nano-CT X-ray imaging is rapidly becoming the method of choice to view micro and nano scale objects in 2D and 3D non-destructively. These scanners use a method pioneered by Dr Alexander Sasov, which although similar in principle to hospital CT systems, operates on a much smaller scale and at a much finer resolution. They allow the internal structure of objects to be viewed and analysed in fine detail, with minimal preparation. Both live and inanimate objects can be scanned, which makes micro and nano-CT particularly suited to many industry and research communities. Applications include material science, entomology, and as a replacement for vivisection.

Disect brings great benefits to the micro and nano-CT environment. Disect Viewer takes the reconstructed data from a scanner and renders pristine quality 2D and 3D images which can be manipulated in real time. This enables the rapid analysis of scanned images. Furthermore, Disect Connect enables these images to be shared for interactive viewing and manipulation by team members at different locations.

Disect has been specifically designed to accommodate the range of file formats that micro and nano-CT scanners routinely output such as BMP, TIF, JPG and JPEG2000, and at resolutions of 8bit and 16bit. It also accommodates 12bit and 16bit DICOM format. That range of file formats is under constant review to ensure that disect can be operated with any scanner.

The image above is a screenshot of the whole disect interface, showing a colour enhanced view of a live anesthetised locust shortly after having ingested contrast enhanced feed. The passage of the feed and the outline of the subject’s extensive gut is clearly visible.

The image above is of a Trigona stingless bee and shows how disect can cut into the subject revealing the detail of internal structures, without the need to actually dissect the specimen and hence destroy the specimen. Similarly the image shows a cut-away view of the internal structure of a Trigona bee hive, again obtained non-destructively.

Further examples of micro and nano-CT scans viewed in Disect are on display in our image gallery.