Tomography overview
The use and implementation of computer aided tomographic techniques in the late 1970’s allowed users to access an innovative technology for significant contributions for medical applications. Soon after, tomographic techniques were utilized for industrial applications, enabling users to identify and locate internal failures, without cutting open the industrial part. Computer aided tomographic techniques, such as Industrial Computed Tomography (CT), have revolutionized the way industry leaders qualify and validate industrial parts.
What is tomography?
Tomography is a process of developing a three dimensional image of the internal features of a solid object. The term tomography originates from the Greek term “Tomos”, meaning section or slice. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, tomography is a method of producing a 3D image of the internal structures of a solid object by the observation and recording of the differences in the effect on the passage of waves of energy impinging on those structures.
Commonly, tomography is used in combination with x-ray technology, in order to manipulate and reconstruct 2D x-rays into tomographic images which are used to develop a 3D model for the external and internal part surface and structures.
How does tomography work?
Tomography refers to the process of capturing images by sections, through some wave of energy; most commonly an x-ray source. For x-ray computed tomography, an x-ray source must be positioned on the opposite side of the detector panel. The radiation is exposed onto the subject being scanned, which is placed between the x-ray source and detector panel. The radiation passes through toward the detector panel and 2D cross sectional slices are captured in pre-determined increments. These tomographic images are then reconstructed using a software, into a 3D model.
Types of tomography
Although computed tomography is one of the most common type of industrial tomography, there are many other types. Some of the most significant types of tomography include:
- X-ray – Computed Tomography
- Gamma rays – SPECT
- Radio-frequency – MRI
- Electron-positron annihilation – PET
