Premium
Use of the X‐ray projection microscope in the examination of bone and cartilage sections
Author(s) -
RodriguezGarcia J. J.,
Little K.
Publication year - 1970
Publication title -
journal of microscopy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.569
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1365-2818
pISSN - 0022-2720
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2818.1970.tb02214.x
Subject(s) - microscope , optics , projection (relational algebra) , materials science , focus (optics) , microscopy , resolution (logic) , x ray , electron microscope , physics , computer science , artificial intelligence , algorithm
SUMMARY The conditions of use of the X‐ray projection microscope for the investigation of bone and cartilage sections have been examined. For the non‐calcified tissues an aluminium target operating at 6 kV has been found the most satisfactory. Aluminium at 15 kV and a copper target at 6 kV are also useful. The instrument is not so satisfactory as conventional microradiography for examination of fully calcified bone, but provides useful information about the softer tissues. In the X‐ray projection microscope a beam of X‐rays produced as nearly as possible from a point is used as a source of illumination, and objects to be photographed are placed between, but not in contact with, the source of X‐rays and the photographic plate. All parts of the specimen or section are equally in focus, so that details from one surface to the other are recorded on the plate with equal sharpness. Because of this depth of focus stereoscopic photographs can be taken to give additional information. The X‐ray microscope is capable of giving useful information where density differences between tissue components are of importance. The resolving power is governed by the size of the X‐ray source, while another factor that influences resolution is the X‐ray scattering factor of the tissue components. The microscope is designed to give X‐rays of different wavelength by change of target material, and of different penetrating power by altering the voltage. At the time this work started, there was insufficient information available about the conditions required for obtaining useful photographs of longitudinal and cross‐sections of bone, so that the first need was to investigate the effect of variations in the experimental method. These will be considered under three main headings: the instrument, preparation and photography of specimens, target material and voltage. An attempt will also be made to give a preliminary assessment of the areas of investigation where the instrument is likely to prove of greatest use in bone research.