CSI - Computerized Scanning and Imaging Facility

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

CT [11] is an invaluable tool for understanding internal structure. Two and three-dimensional visualizations are valuable data for research topics as diverse as tissue and sound interactions, climate change, reef structure, and core analyses. Researchers interested in functional anatomy or pathology now have the opportunity to visualize tissues in situ [11] and undisturbed. This includes fine structures of soft tissue, fluids, fats, air, and bone

Our CT scanner [12] is capable of imaging a wide range of materials and specimens [13] at an optimal resolution of 100 micron [11]voxels [11] or, for rapid imaging, at table speeds up to 1m/min data acquisition. In practical terms, this means data showing internal differences in tissues of a 100 to 200 kg, 2 meter dolphin can be acquired in just over two minutes and imaged at 100 micron intervals through the entire body. X-ray attenuations [11] can be measured up to 40,000 gradations or Hounsfield units [11].

CT scanning offers the advantage of matrix data for both the attenuations and reformatted images that are readily exportable to virtually any platform and are comparable with most modeling efforts. Currently, CSI provides reformatting with Siemens® CT software, which includes Shaded Surface Display (SSD) [11], Multi-planer Reformations (MPR) [11], and Volume Rendering Technique (VRT) [11] 3D post-processing. In addition, we use AMIRA® [14], OSIRIX® [15] and Merge eFilm® [16], 3D Visualization software.