7-tonne scanner reveals a hidden world of intricate detail

Compelling images of everyday items and intricate biological structures have revealed the capabilities of AIBN’s industrial micro-CT scanner.

The 7-tonne scanner offers huge scope for use in research across both academia and industry, said National Imaging Facility Fellow Associate Professor Gary Cowin.

Visualising insect brains and flowers

“The level of detail that can be achieved is incredible, from visualising the internal structure of a toothpick to mapping the tiny brains of insects,” Dr Cowin said.

“These images demonstrate the scientific and commercial potential of this technology.”The Yxlon FF35 micro-CT scanner can handle tiny samples, down to 1mm, or as large as 400mm. 

Supporting engineers to archeologists

Dr Cowin said the technology supports disciplines as diverse as engineering, biology, archaeology and materials science. 

“Agriculture researchers have used the micro-CT scanner to study root growth under different soil conditions,” he said.
 
“Materials scientists and engineers have used it to assess porosity and cracks in carbon fibre for advanced manufacturing and verify the accuracy of 3D-printed components.

“We’ve scanned everything from mining ore samples to praying mantis brains.” 

Zooming into the micron level

Dr Cowin said among the more striking outputs are colour-enhanced scans of native flowers and the timber of a matchstick, revealing hidden cellular structures in vivid detail.

“Being able to zoom in at the micron level allows you to see patterns and textures that are both scientifically valuable and visually interesting,” he said. 

The scanner is available for use by researchers at UQ and elsewhere, as well as being accessible to commercial partners through the national facility. 

Accessible for researchers and commercial partners

“We can provide scanning services or train users to operate the system themselves, whether they’re developing new materials, investigating biological systems or need high-resolution imaging for quality control,” Dr Cowin said.“The idea is for the technology to be as accessible as possible.”

AIBN’s advanced imaging facilities provide a range of research capabilities, including human imaging, pre-clinical MRI and molecular imaging, high resolution MRI microscopy,  industrial microCT imaging, NMR spectroscopy, EPR Spectroscopy, radio chemistry and a cyclotron for radioisotope production.

The micro-CT scanner was funded through contributions from the National Imaging Facility (NIF) which is part of the Australian Government’s National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS), the Queensland State Government and The University of Queensland. 

Researchers and companies interested in using the micro-CT scanner are invited to contact the National Imaging Facility-Qld at AIBN.  

Images available via Dropbox