Inexpensive CAT scan machine constructed with an Arduino

A CT (computed tomography), or CAT (computed axial tomography), scan is a sort of medical imaging method wherein a number of X-ray “slices” come collectively to type a pseudo-3D mannequin. CT scanners are the sorts of medical tools which are so costly that producers don’t even trouble itemizing costs on their web sites. Suffice it to say that new CT scanners can price a number of million {dollars} — not precisely inside the price range of many hobbyists. So Pyrotechnical used an Arduino to construct his personal CT scanner.

Disclaimer: X-ray emitters are probably harmful. Don’t play with them for those who don’t know what you’re doing!

Pyrotechnical’s CT scanner design depends on taking X-ray “slice” photos rotationally, versus a stack of slices like a resin 3D printer. The reason being that X-ray photos penetrate a whole object and there isn’t any approach to seize a real cross-sectional slice. However by snapping X-ray images of an object from many alternative angles, it’s potential to create what appears to be like like a 3D view. It’s even potential to make use of these to assemble a 3D mannequin.

The X-ray emitter and display for this challenge got here from an outdated mammography machine. After the X-rays cross by means of the imaged object, they collide with the particular display that emits gentle. That display makes it straightforward to take photos of the X-ray projection. The Arduino Uno board performs three features. First, it spins a stepper motor to rotate a turntable on which the scanned object rests. Second, it prompts the X-ray emitter’s energy provide by way of a relay. Third, it prompts a Bluetooth distant by means of one other relay and that Bluetooth distant tells Pyrotechnical’s smartphone to snap a photograph.

Capturing an X-ray picture each eight levels of rotation yields 45 images. By changing these into frames of a video, one finally ends up with a reasonably cool clip that provides viewers a “3D” X-ray look into the thing. With a nifty program akin to photogrammetry software program, one may even create a real 3D mannequin from the pictures — although it is vitally low-resolution.