The “LaTheta” LCT-100A micro-CT scanner

The CT scanner is a fully x-ray shielded system and allows measurement of specimens as well as small animals in vivo. The micro-focus x-ray tube has a focal spot size of 50 µm and can be operated at high voltages of either 35 kV or 50 kV with a constant current of 1 mA. The detector consists of a photo- diode array with 512 pixels of 0.45 mm x 0.6 mm. The size of the transaxial field-of-view (FOV) can be varied in three steps de- pending on the diameter of the object to be imaged. The sys- tem allowed setting FOV diameters of 30 (S), 48 (M) or 120 (L) mm. Data are acquired slice by slice through step-and-shoot half-scanning. Rotation times can be set to 4.5 sec (fast), 18 sec (slow) and 36 sec (ultra-slow). Before scanning, a digital radiogram is acquired which can cover the maximum scan length of 300 mm.  Images are reconstructed with a 480 x 480 matrix leading to an in-plane pixel resolution of 250 µm(FOV L), 100 µm (M) and 62.5 µm (S) being about half of the physically achievable spatial resolution of the scanner. For details see Stiller, W et al.  FortschrRöntgenstr 2007;179:669–675 (DOI 10.1055/s-2007-963189).