arXiv subjects

Stephanie A. Harker

Publications and source records attributed to Stephanie A. Harker.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Phase-contrast micro-CT for intra-operative breast tumour margin assessment using a microfocus x-ray source and photon-counting detector

Objective: Intra-operative tumour margin assessment during breast-conserving surgery requires rapid, high-resolution imaging of excised tissue, allowing the surgical team to take appropriate action within a single operation. This study evaluates a custom propagation-based phase-contrast micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) system designed to meet these clinical constraints without specialised optical elements. Methods: The experimental setup pairs a microfocus x-ray source with a photon-counting detector in a cone-beam geometry. We explore how the spatial coherence of the source can provide propagation-based phase contrast -- with no additional specialised optical elements -- and balance this against maximising the x-ray flux of the cone-beam geometry. System performance was evaluated across two anode target materials and filtration configurations at various tube power settings. Imaging capabilities were validated using anthropomorphic breast tissue phantoms and a formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) breast tissue specimen, with reconstructions compared against gold-standard histology. Results: An unfiltered tungsten target operated at 40 kVp yielded optimal image quality. The optimised system achieved high-resolution CT reconstructions of a 5 cm diameter sample with an isotropic voxel size of 40.7 $\upmu\text{m}$ in a scan time of 12 minutes. Reconstructed volumes demonstrated strong visual correlation with corresponding histology slides. Conclusion: Combining a microfocus source with a photon-counting detector enables high-resolution, phase-contrast micro-CT within a clinically viable timeframe, demonstrating strong potential for intra-operative margin assessment.

physics.med-ph↗

arXiv2025

High-energy X-ray phase-contrast CT of an adult human chest phantom

Propagation-based phase-contrast X-ray imaging is a promising technique for in~vivo medical imaging, offering lower radiation doses than traditional attenuation-based imaging. Previous studies have focused on X-ray energies below 50 keV for small-animal imaging and mammography. Here, we investigate the feasibility of high-energy propagation-based computed tomography for human adult-scale lung imaging at the Australian Synchrotron's Imaging and Medical Beamline. This facility is uniquely positioned for human lung imaging, offering a large field of view, high X-ray energies, and supporting clinical infrastructure. We imaged an anthropomorphic chest phantom (LungMan) between 50 keV and 80 keV across the range of possible sample-to-detector distances, with a photon-counting and an integrating detector. Strong phase-contrast fringes were observed with the photon-counting detector, even at high X-ray energies and a large pixel size relative to previous work, whereas the integrating detector with lower spatial resolution showed no clear phase effects. Measured X-ray phase-shifting properties of LungMan aligned well with reference soft tissue values, validating the phantom for phase-contrast studies. Imaging quality assessments suggest an optimal configuration at approximately 70 keV and the longest available propagation distance of 7.5 m, indicating potential benefit in positioning the patient in an upstream hutch. This study represents the first step towards clinical adult lung imaging at the Australian Synchrotron.

physics.med-ph↗

arXiv2024

Single-exposure X-ray dark-field imaging via a dual-energy propagation-based setup

X-ray dark-field imaging visualises scattering from sample microstructure, and has found application in medical and security contexts. While most X-ray dark-field imaging techniques rely on masks, gratings, or crystals, recent work on the Fokker--Planck model of diffusive imaging has enabled dark-field imaging in the propagation-based geometry. Images captured at multiple propagation distances or X-ray energies can be used to reconstruct dark-field from propagation-based images but have previously required multiple exposures. Here, we show single-exposure dark-field imaging by exploiting the harmonic content in a monochromatised synchrotron beam and utilising an energy-discriminating photon-counting detector to capture dual-energy propagation-based images. The method is validated by filming time-varying samples, showing the advantage of the dark-field contrast in analysing dynamic evolution. We measure and adjust for the impact of detector charge-sharing on the images. This work opens the way for low-dose and dynamic dark-field X-ray imaging without the need for a high-stability set-up and precision optics.

physics.optics↗