The CT Scanner Facility at Stellenbosch University: An open access X-ray computed tomography laboratory

Plessis, Anton du; Roux, Stéphan; Guelpa, Anina

doi:10.1016/j.nimb.2016.08.005

Cited by 125 publications

(63 citation statements)

References 46 publications

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“…Therefore, irregular surfaces below the struts were expected [23]. MicroCT scanning was done using laboratory nanoCT as described in Reference [21] using a Deben in-situ loading stage (CT500, Deben UK, London, UK) in a General Electric Nanotom scanner (Nanotom S, General Electric, Wunstorf, Germany). The sample sizes in this work were selected according to the maximum sample size of 10 mm and maximum loading force of 500 N of this loading stage.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mechanical Properties and In-Situ Deformation Imaging of Micro-Lattices Manufactured by Laser Based Powder Bed Fusion

Plessis¹,

Kouprianoff²,

Yadroitsava³

et al. 2018

Preprint

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This paper reports on the production and mechanical properties of Ti6Al4V microlattice structures with strut thickness nearing the single-track width of the laser-based powder bed fusion (LPBF) system used. Besides providing new information on the mechanical properties and manufacturability of such thin-strut lattices, this paper also reports on the in situ deformation imaging of microlattice structures with six unit cells in every direction. LPBF lattices are of interest for medical implants due to the possibility of creating structures with an elastic modulus close to that of the bones and small pore sizes that allow effective osseointegration. In this work, four different cubes were produced using laser powder bed fusion and subsequently analyzed using microCT, compression testing, and one selected lattice was subjected to in situ microCT imaging during compression. The in situ imaging was performed at four steps during yielding. The results indicate that mechanical performance (elastic modulus and strength) correlate well with actual density and that this performance is remarkably good despite the high roughness and irregularity of the struts at this scale. In situ yielding is visually illustrated.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mechanical Properties and In-Situ Deformation Imaging of Micro-Lattices Manufactured by Laser Based Powder Bed Fusion

Plessis¹,

Kouprianoff²,

Yadroitsava³

et al. 2018

Preprint

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“…X-ray micro-computed tomography (μCT) scans were performed at the CT Scanner Facility at Stellenbosch University, South Africa [49]. Two specimens of P .…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

MicroCT imaging applied to description of a new species of Pagurus Fabricius, 1775 (Crustacea: Decapoda: Anomura: Paguridae), with selection of three-dimensional type data

Landschoff¹,

Komai²,

Plessis³

et al. 2018

PLoS ONE

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A new species of hermit crab, Pagurus fraserorum n. sp. (family Paguridae) is described from rocky subtidal reefs off KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, and illustrated using both conventional drawings and colour photographs, and via three-dimensional (3D) X-ray micro-computed tomography (μCT). Because of the limitation μCT has in detecting very fine and soft structures, a novel approach of manually drawing setation and spinulation onto the two-dimensional images of the 3D visualizations was used to illustrate the pereopods. In addition, an interactive figure and rotation movie clips in the supplement section complement the species description, and the 3D raw data of the 3D type data are downloadable from the Gigascience Database repository. The new species is the sixth species of Pagurus Fabricius, 1775 reported from South Africa and is closely allied to the Indo-Pacific P. boriaustraliensis Morgen, 1990 and P. pitagsaleei McLaughlin, 2002, from which it differs by its shorter ocular peduncles, by the armature of the carpus of the right cheliped, and also in colouration. This study presents the first description of a hermit crab in which a majority of taxonomic details are illustrated through 3D volume-rendered illustrations. In addition, colour photographs and COI molecular barcodes are provided, and the latter compared to COI sequences of specimens from Western Australia previously identified as P. boriaustraliensis and of specimens of P. pitagsaleei from Taiwan, as well as to three additional South African members of the genus. The South African taxon was confirmed to be genetically distinct from all species tested.

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“…Here, a commercial system with a rotating specimen design was used as our protocol does not require the administration of anaesthetics (see below). Micro‐CT scanning was performed on a GE Phoenix v|tome|x L240 dual tube CT instrument (Phoenix X‐ray; General Electric Sensing & Technologies, Wunstorf, Germany) located at the Central Analytical Facility, Stellenbosch University (du Plessis, le Roux & Guelpa ). The system contains two cone‐beam X‐ray tubes, one up to 240 kV and the other up to 180 kV, and a 2048 × 2048 16‐bit X‐ray detector.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Beauty is more than skin deep: a non‐invasive protocol for in vivo anatomical study using micro‐CT

et al. 2016

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Summary Microcomputed tomography (μCT) is a widely used tool in biomedical research, employed to investigate tissues and bone structures of small mammals in vivo. The application of in vivo μCT scanning in non‐medical studies greatly lags behind the rapid advancements made in the biomedical field wherein the methodology has evolved to allow for longitudinal studies and eliminate the need to sacrifice the animal. Ecological and evolutionary studies often involve morphological measurements of a large sample of live animals; however, the potential of in vivo μCT imaging as a method for data acquisition has yet to be delineated. Here, we describe a protocol for in vivo μCT imaging of the internal anatomy of reptiles and amphibians, commonly used study organisms in ecological and evolutionary research. We consider the skeletal and extraskeletal (i.e. osteoderms) bones of a lizard as a case study to elucidate the potential of in vivo μCT imaging. First, we explore the effects of various parameter settings on radiation dose, scan time and image quality. Secondly, we develop a protocol to immobilize and restrain study organisms during scanning without need for the administration of anaesthetics and compare the results of the in vivo protocol to images obtained post‐mortem. To immobilize animals, we replace the use of anaesthetics by cooling, thereby allowing the use of previously unsuitable rotating gantry μCT scanners that are readily available in scientific institutions. The resultant image quality of in vivo μCT scans is similar to that of post‐mortem μCT scans, especially in the abdominal region. We discuss the effect of tube voltage, distance to X‐ray source and metal filtration on radiation dose, and how these parameters could be altered to reduce the cumulative radiation dose while maintaining optimal image quality. The proposed in vivo μCT protocol offers a new approach to acquire anatomical information for non‐biomedical studies. We offer specific suggestions as to how the protocol can be employed to suit a variety of model organisms.

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The CT Scanner Facility at Stellenbosch University: An open access X-ray computed tomography laboratory

Cited by 125 publications

References 46 publications

Mechanical Properties and In-Situ Deformation Imaging of Micro-Lattices Manufactured by Laser Based Powder Bed Fusion

Mechanical Properties and In-Situ Deformation Imaging of Micro-Lattices Manufactured by Laser Based Powder Bed Fusion

MicroCT imaging applied to description of a new species of Pagurus Fabricius, 1775 (Crustacea: Decapoda: Anomura: Paguridae), with selection of three-dimensional type data

Beauty is more than skin deep: a non‐invasive protocol for in vivo anatomical study using micro‐CT

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