In addition to size, the fast rotation of scanning had created additional difficulties for integrating dark-field imaging. The high-speed rotation creates vibrations that affect the finely tuned components in the interior of the device. The team at TUM used them to implement the required shift between the gratings to perform dark-field imaging and developed algorithms to filter out the vibration effects based on reference scans.

The university has been assessing the approach for some time in the diagnosis of pulmonary ailments. Through research, it found that the technique can show early changes in the alveolar structure caused by chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.


"We expect the major benefit in the early diagnosis and treatment of respiratory diseases like COPD, pulmonary fibrosis, pneumonia, or lung cancer, since they are generally associated with structural changes of lung parenchyma," said Gustschin and Viermetz. "In a broader context, quantitative information on the alveolar microstructure could enable a better understanding of inflammatory processes and complications caused by acute lung injuries, infectious diseases like COVID-19 or consequences of radiation therapy."

Other potential applications, they add, include improved foreign body detection and the characterization of calcifications and bone microstructure in the context of osteoporosis.

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