In 1992 IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium and Medical Imaging Conference Record, pages 1292-1294, Orlando, Florida, 29-31 October 1992.
X-ray imaging is well suited for bone measurements since organic soft tissues are relatively transparent and mineral materials are relatively opaque. 3D tomographic measurements are of particular importance for evaluating the complex structure found in cancellous bone. A system for very high resolution (50 x 50 x 50 micrometers^3) three dimensional tomography of small (1 x 1 x 1 cm^3) biologic specimens is described. Two dimensional planar x-ray views are acquired of the specimen by an image intensifier and digital camera system while the specimen is rotated through several hundred positions. The recorded data is processed to obtain spatially accurate estimates of the attenuation line integral and reconstructed using a cone-beam algorithm. Measurements obtained with this system are being used to study the stuctures found in bone biopsy specimens.