Metscher homepage

X-ray Microtomography

also known as
Micro-CT (Micro-computed tomography)
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Our Research Program

We have developed methods for 3-D imaging of embryonic and other tissues for a variety of purposes. Our main microCT applications are comparative embryology and quantitative imaging and modeling of morphogenesis.

We are not a service facility, but we are interested in discussing productive collaborations on projects of interest to evolutionary developmental biology.



Dev Dyn cover

Our Imaging Facility

We have two microCT imaging systems, both self-contained (i.e. no synchrotron source).

The big one is a  MicroXCT model manufactured by Xradia, Inc. (It weighs as much as a Bentley and cost as much as two.) This scanner is capable of tomographic imaging of biological objects from about 8mm down to less than 500µm in diameter, with resolutions down to about 1.5µm.

MicroXCT

The smaller scanner is for larger specimens: This is a SkyScan 1174. This is a low-cost scanner made for samples up to about 30mm, and gives spatial resolutions down to about 20µm.

1174
 

Inside the MicroXCT is a rotating stage that holds the sample,
an x-ray tube (left), and the imaging detectors (upper right).
Visible at the back is a CCD camera for monitoring the inside
of the chamber when the shield door is closed.




MicroCT methods for biological research

Find up-to-date information at the MicroCT Methods Forum:
http://tomodata.zoo.univie.ac.at/Forum/

Metscher BD, Müller GB. 2011. MicroCT for Molecular Imaging: Quantitative Visualization of Complete 3D Distributions of Gene Products in Embryonic Limbs. Dev Dyn 240(10):2301-2308 [at Dev Dyn].

Metscher BD. 2010. X-Ray Microtomographic Imaging of Vertebrate Embryos. In: Sharpe J, Wong R, Yuste R, editors. Imaging in Developmental Biology: A Laboratory Manual. Cold Spring Harbor Press. [online at CSHP]

Metscher, BD 2009. MicroCT for Developmental Biology: A Versatile Tool for High-Contrast 3D Imaging at Histological Resolutions. Dev Dyn 238:632-640.  [at Dev Dyn] [PDF]

Metscher, BD 2009. MicroCT for comparative morphology: simple staining methods allow high-contrast 3D imaging of diverse non-mineralized tissues.  [open access] [PDF]

More publications from the lab: Publications



Movie gallery: http://tomodata.zoo.univie.ac.at/videostation/

Picture gallery: http://tomodata.zoo.univie.ac.at/MicroCT_gallery/

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Updated April 2013