Final Report Summary - X-RAY-BIOIMAGING (X-ray phase-contrast imaging for biomedical applications)
The overall goal of this proposal was the improvement of currently existing biomedical x-ray imaging approaches by using new wave-optical (phase-contrast) interaction of x-rays with matter as imaging signal. The achieved results of this project provide the scientific basis for future routine exploitation of biomedical x-ray phase-contrast imaging through academic research and biomedical imaging device manufacturers. While we envision that the method will ultimately be applicable and beneficiary for several x-ray medical diagnostics applications (i.e. including computer tomography on humans), this project focused primarily on the first proof-of-principle implementation of x-ray phase-contrast bioimaging for pre-clinical, small-animal applications. These efforts were complemented by studies to evaluate the potential clinical benefits in biomedical diagnostics for various disease models, and efforts to further develop the theoretical understanding of the wave optical image formation process and suitable computed tomography reconstruction algorithms.