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Partridge T, Astolfo A, Shankar SS, Vittoria FA, Endrizzi M, Arridge S, Riley-Smith T, Haig IG, Bate D, Olivo A. Enhanced detection of threat materials by dark-field x-ray imaging combined with deep neural networks. Nat Commun 2022; 13:4651. [PMID: 36085141 PMCID: PMC9463187 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-32402-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2021] [Accepted: 07/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
X-ray imaging has been boosted by the introduction of phase-based methods. Detail visibility is enhanced in phase contrast images, and dark-field images are sensitive to inhomogeneities on a length scale below the system's spatial resolution. Here we show that dark-field creates a texture which is characteristic of the imaged material, and that its combination with conventional attenuation leads to an improved discrimination of threat materials. We show that remaining ambiguities can be resolved by exploiting the different energy dependence of the dark-field and attenuation signals. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the dark-field texture is well-suited for identification through machine learning approaches through two proof-of-concept studies. In both cases, application of the same approaches to datasets from which the dark-field images were removed led to a clear degradation in performance. While the small scale of these studies means further research is required, results indicate potential for a combined use of dark-field and deep neural networks in security applications and beyond.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Partridge
- Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, UCL, London, WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - A Astolfo
- Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, UCL, London, WC1E 6BT, UK.,Nikon X-Tek Systems Ltd, Tring, Herts, HP23 4JX, UK
| | - S S Shankar
- Nylers Ltd, Marshall House, Middleton Road, Morden, Surrey, SM4 6RW, UK
| | - F A Vittoria
- Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, UCL, London, WC1E 6BT, UK.,ENEA-Radiation Protection Institute, 4 Via Martiri di Monte Sole, 40129, Bologna, Italy
| | - M Endrizzi
- Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, UCL, London, WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - S Arridge
- Department of Computer Science, UCL, London, WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - T Riley-Smith
- XPCI Technology Ltd, The Elms Courtyard, Bromesberrow, Ledbury, HR8 1RZ, UK
| | - I G Haig
- Nikon X-Tek Systems Ltd, Tring, Herts, HP23 4JX, UK
| | - D Bate
- Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, UCL, London, WC1E 6BT, UK.,Nikon X-Tek Systems Ltd, Tring, Herts, HP23 4JX, UK
| | - A Olivo
- Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, UCL, London, WC1E 6BT, UK.
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Olivo A. Edge-illumination x-ray phase-contrast imaging. JOURNAL OF PHYSICS. CONDENSED MATTER : AN INSTITUTE OF PHYSICS JOURNAL 2021; 33:363002. [PMID: 34167096 PMCID: PMC8276004 DOI: 10.1088/1361-648x/ac0e6e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2021] [Revised: 06/07/2021] [Accepted: 06/24/2021] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Although early demonstration dates back to the mid-sixties, x-ray phase-contrast imaging (XPCI) became hugely popular in the mid-90s, thanks to the advent of 3rd generation synchrotron facilities. Its ability to reveal object features that had so far been considered invisible to x-rays immediately suggested great potential for applications across the life and the physical sciences, and an increasing number of groups worldwide started experimenting with it. At that time, it looked like a synchrotron facility was strictly necessary to perform XPCI with some degree of efficiency-the only alternative being micro-focal sources, the limited flux of which imposed excessively long exposure times. However, new approaches emerged in the mid-00s that overcame this limitation, and allowed XPCI implementations with conventional, non-micro-focal x-ray sources. One of these approaches showing particular promise for 'real-world' applications is edge-illumination XPCI: this article describes the key steps in its evolution in the context of contemporary developments in XPCI research, and presents its current state-of-the-art, especially in terms of transition towards practical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Olivo
- Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, UCL, London, United Kingdom
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Graetz J, Balles A, Hanke R, Zabler S. Review and experimental verification of x-ray dark-field signal interpretations with respect to quantitative isotropic and anisotropic dark-field computed tomography. Phys Med Biol 2020; 65:235017. [PMID: 32916662 DOI: 10.1088/1361-6560/abb7c6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Talbot(-Lau) interferometric x-ray and neutron dark-field imaging has, over the past decade, gained substantial interest for its ability to provide insights into a sample's microstructure below the imaging resolution by means of ultra small angle scattering effects. Quantitative interpretations of such images depend on models of the signal origination process that relate the observable image contrast to underlying physical processes. A review of such models is given here and their relation to the wave optical derivations by Yashiro et al and Lynch et al as well as to small angle scattering is discussed. Fresnel scaling is introduced to explain the characteristic distance dependence observed in cone beam geometries. Moreover, a model describing the anisotropic signals of fibrous objects is derived. The Yashiro-Lynch model is experimentally verified both in radiographic and tomographic imaging in a monochromatic synchrotron setting, considering both the effects of material and positional dependence of the resulting dark-field contrast. The effect of varying sample-detector distance on the dark-field signal is shown to be non-negligible for tomographic imaging, yet can be largely compensated for by symmetric acquisition trajectories. The derived orientation dependence of the dark-field contrast of fibrous materials both with respect to variations in autocorrelation width and scattering cross section is experimentally validated using carbon fiber reinforced rods.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Graetz
- Lehrstuhl für Röntgenmikroskopie, Universität Würzburg, Josef-Martin-Weg 63, 97074 Würzburg, Germany. Fraunhofer IIS, division EZRT, Flugplatzstraße 75, 90768 Fürth / Josef-Martin-Weg 63, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
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Maughan Jones CJ, Vittoria FA, Olivo A, Endrizzi M, Munro PRT. Retrieval of weak x-ray scattering using edge illumination. OPTICS LETTERS 2018; 43:3874-3877. [PMID: 30106905 DOI: 10.1364/ol.43.003874] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2018] [Accepted: 05/24/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
X-ray phase contrast imaging provides additional modes of image contrast compared to conventional attenuation-based x-ray imaging, thus providing additional structural and functional information about the sample. The edge-illumination (EI) technique has been used to provide attenuation, refraction, and scattering contrast in both biological and non-biological samples. However, the retrieval of low scattering signals by fitting a single Gaussian remains problematic, principally due to the inability of the EI system to achieve perfect dark-field illumination. We present a new retrieval method that fits three Gaussians, which successfully overcomes this limitation, and provide examples of the retrieval of such signals in highly absorbing, weakly scattering samples.
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Modregger P, Kagias M, Peter S, Abis M, Guzenko VA, David C, Stampanoni M. Multiple scattering tomography. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2014; 113:020801. [PMID: 25062159 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.113.020801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Multiple scattering represents a challenge for numerous modern tomographic imaging techniques. In this Letter, we derive an appropriate line integral that allows for the tomographic reconstruction of angular resolved scattering distributions, even in the presence of multiple scattering. The line integral is applicable to a wide range of imaging techniques utilizing various kinds of probes. Here, we use x-ray grating interferometry to experimentally validate the framework and to demonstrate additional structural sensitivity, which exemplifies the impact of multiple scattering tomography.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Modregger
- Swiss Light Source, Paul Scherrer Institut, 5232 Villigen, Switzerland and Centre d'Imagerie BioMédicale, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Matias Kagias
- Swiss Light Source, Paul Scherrer Institut, 5232 Villigen, Switzerland and Institute for Biomedical Engineering, UZH/ETH Zürich, 8092 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Silvia Peter
- Swiss Light Source, Paul Scherrer Institut, 5232 Villigen, Switzerland and Institute for Biomedical Engineering, UZH/ETH Zürich, 8092 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Matteo Abis
- Swiss Light Source, Paul Scherrer Institut, 5232 Villigen, Switzerland and Institute for Biomedical Engineering, UZH/ETH Zürich, 8092 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Vitaliy A Guzenko
- Laboratory for Micro- and Nanotechnology, Paul Scherrer Institut, 5232 Villigen, Switzerland
| | - Christian David
- Laboratory for Micro- and Nanotechnology, Paul Scherrer Institut, 5232 Villigen, Switzerland
| | - Marco Stampanoni
- Swiss Light Source, Paul Scherrer Institut, 5232 Villigen, Switzerland and Institute for Biomedical Engineering, UZH/ETH Zürich, 8092 Zürich, Switzerland
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Synchrotron X-ray diffraction characterization of healthy and fluorotic human dental enamel. Radiat Phys Chem Oxf Engl 1993 2012. [DOI: 10.1016/j.radphyschem.2012.05.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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Jensen TH, Bech M, Bunk O, Donath T, David C, Feidenhans'l R, Pfeiffer F. Directional x-ray dark-field imaging. Phys Med Biol 2010; 55:3317-23. [PMID: 20484780 DOI: 10.1088/0031-9155/55/12/004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
We introduce a novel x-ray imaging approach that yields information about the local texture of structures smaller than the image pixel resolution inside an object. The approach is based on a recently developed x-ray dark-field imaging technique, using scattering from sub-micron structures in the sample. We show that the method can be used to determine the local angle and degree of orientation of bone, and fibers in a leaf. As the method is based on the use of a conventional x-ray tube we believe that it can have a great impact on medical diagnostics and non-destructive testing applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Torben H Jensen
- Niels Bohr Institute, University of Copenhagen, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark.
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Olivo A, Speller R. Modelling of a novel x-ray phase contrast imaging technique based on coded apertures. Phys Med Biol 2007; 52:6555-73. [DOI: 10.1088/0031-9155/52/22/001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
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Zhong Z, Chapman D, Connor D, Dilmanian A, Gmur N, Hasnah M, Johnston RE, Kiss MZ, Li J, Muehleman C, Oltulu O, Parham C, Pisano E, Rigon L, Sayers D, Thomlinson W, Yaffe M, Zhong H. Diffraction enhanced imaging of soft tissues. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2002. [DOI: 10.1080/08940880208602986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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