Life Science Applications
X-ray CT (computed tomography) is a non-destructive 3D imaging technique. It provides fast, high-resolution imaging with little to no extensive sample preparation required by other imaging techniques, such as electron microscopy. It is a powerful technique to reveal the internal structures of life science samples, such as animals, plants, and insects. Moreover, X-ray CT experiments can be performed in situ and in vivo for these types of samples. The recent development of various contrast-enhancing techniques has extended the capability of X-ray CT (Rawson et al., (2020) BMC Biology, 18:21).
What can be analyzed?
X-ray CT can be used for:
- Insect and pest investigation
- Seed and germination analysis
- Root system investigations
- Animal imaging
- 4D examination of lung respiration
Learning resources
To learn more about CT data analysis for life science samples:
- X‑ray Computed Tomography for Materials & Life Sciences webinar series - Data Analysis
- X‑ray Computed Tomography for Materials & Life Sciences webinar series - Life Science Applications
- X‑ray Computed Tomography for Materials & Life Sciences webinar series - Plant Science Applications
- X‑ray Computed Tomography for Materials & Life Sciences webinar series - Preparing Life Science Samples
- Blog article - How to Improve X-ray Contrast for Organic Samples
To learn more about X‑ray micro-CT:
Life science application examples
Explore application examples to see if X-ray CT can help you with your research or production challenges.
What is micro-CT?
How does it work? How much does it cost? Do I need It? What are the common problems?
To learn everything you need to know about micro-CT, you can start here: What is micro-CT?
Recommended products
Rigaku's CT scanners for life science
For resolution and contrast enhancement nano3DX
Recommended when you need submicron resolution or want to enhance the contrast between similar low-density organic materials
For versatility CT Lab HX
Recommended for sample imaging that requires flexibility in sample size and resolution
For speed CT Lab GX
Recommended when fast scans are required for time-resolved imaging or low radiation dosage
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