X-ray phase-contrast microtomography of soft tissues using a compact laboratory system with two-directional sensitivity

X-ray microtomography is a nondestructive, three-dimensional inspection technique applied across vast range of fields and disciplines, ranging from research to industrial, encompassing engineering, biology, medical research. Phase-contrast imaging extends the domain application x-ray classes samples that exhibit weak attenuation, thus appearing with poor contrast in standard imaging. Notable examples are low-atomic-number materials, like carbon-fiber composites, soft matter, biological tissues. We report on compact cost-effective system for phase-contrast microtomography. The features high sensitivity phase gradients resolution, requires low-power sealed tube, single optical element, fits small footprint. It compatible detector technologies: our experiments, we have observed single-photon counting offered higher angular sensitivity, whereas flat panels provided larger field view. benchmarked against known-material phantoms, its potential soft-tissue demonstrated small-animal organs: piglet esophagus rat heart. believe simplicity setup proposing, combined robustness will facilitate accessing quantitative as tool including tissue materials science, nondestructive testing general.