Patent ID: 7197355
Filing Date: 2007-03-27
Classification: G01N,G06T

Abstract:
1. A method for variable-motion optical tomography of an object of interest, comprising the steps of: (a) packing a plurality of objects of interest into a tubular container so that the plurality of objects of interest remain stationary within the tubular container, the tubular container having a central axis; (b) illuminating the plurality of objects of interest with at least one optical projection beam; (c) translating the tubular container until at least one object of interest is located within a region of the at least one optical projection beam; (d) centering the at least one object of interest as necessary; (e) rotating the tubular container holding the at least one object of interest through a plurality of radial angles that are perpendicular to the central axis; (f) generating a set of projection images onto at least one detector surface at each radial angle of the plurality of angles, where spaces between the at least one optical projection beam and the at least one object of interest and spaces between the at least one object of interest and the at least one detector surface are filled with a material whose index of refraction is matched with that of the tubular container; and (g) repeating the steps (b) through (f) until the plurality of objects of interest have been radially scanned.