Progress in medical diffraction enhanced imaging at the UK Synchrotron Radiation Source

Diffraction Enhanced Imaging (DEI) is an x-ray phase contrast technique, which is showing great promise for a number of medical imaging problems. For a source it relies on a highly collimated flux of monochromatic x-rays, which is currently only available at synchrotron radiation facilities. Phase shifts occurring as the wave passes through the object are made visible using Bragg diffraction from a post-sample analyser optic. In early 2004 the DEI system on the bending-magnet beam line 7.6 of the Daresbury SRS was used for the first time to image a number of small medical specimens. This paper will report on the performance of the system and the results of these initial studies. A new DEI instrument is currently in the design phase. This facility will be integrated on wiggler station 9.4 on the SRS allowing access to shorter x-ray wavelengths and greater flux. A progress report on the design features and implementation of this system will be given.