Technology Development

Diffraction Enhanced X-Ray Imaging

An x-ray imaging technique that produces a diffracted image which provides information not only about the absorption characteristics of the object imaged but also the refractive characteristics. This technique which, can be applied to virtually any type of x-ray image, has been tested for use in medical applications such as breast cancer detection, lung disease assessment, and cartilage deterioration assessment. Dr. Etta Pisano lead a research team of investigators in the development of a DEI system capable of operating independently of a synchrotron light source. The image shown here is a cadaveric thumb imaged with the team's prototype DEI system.