Systems and methods are provided for improved intra-operative micro-CT imaging of explanted tissue samples and for improved visualization of such samples. These embodiments provide for reduced scan times and the ability for radiologists to quickly receive useful scan imagery and to provide accurately-communicated recommendations to the operating surgeon. Improved scan visualization methods facilitate surgeon and radiologist interaction with the scan data, including of annotation, viewing, and reorientation to accurately reflect the orientation of imaged tissue samples relative to the body prior to explantation. Improved visualization methods include color-coded sample texturing to indicate sample orientation, color-coded tumor visualization to indicate proximity to sample margins, and intuitive methods for adjusting the location and orientation of two-dimensional visualizations relative to the sample.

Testing systems and methods are provided for a smoking article to determine a characteristic of the smoking article, such as density of a material used therewith. The testing system may include a test fixture and an electromagnetic energy generating device The testing methods may be carried out by subjecting the material to the electromagnetic energy and determining the amount of energy absorbed by the material.

The present disclosure provides a substance identification device and a substance identification method. The substance identification device comprises: a classifier establishing unit configured to establish a classifier based on scattering density values reconstructed for a plurality of known sample materials, wherein the classifier comprises a plurality of feature regions corresponding to a plurality of characteristic parameters for the plurality of known sample materials, respectively; and an identification unit for a material to be tested, configured to match the characteristic parameter of the material to be tested with the classifier, and to identify a type of the material to be tested by obtaining a feature region corresponding to the characteristic parameter of the material to be tested.

An X-ray-based test device for a plugging removal effect of a sulfur dissolvent on a sulfur deposition rock sample includes a constant speed and pressure pump, a first intermediate container, a second intermediate container, a first pressure transmitter, a core holder, a second pressure transmitter, a first electric pump, a third intermediate container, a back-pressure valve, a gas flow meter, an H.sub.2S neutralization tank, a second electric pump, a back-pressure transmitter, a confining pressure transmitter, an X-ray generator, an X-ray detector and a thermotank. A sour gas sample is placed in the first intermediate container, and nitrogen is filled in the second intermediate container. The sulfur dissolvent is placed into the third intermediate container. A confining pressure inlet is formed in the core holder. The test device may be used for evaluating the plugging removal effect of the sulfur dissolvent injected into the sulfur deposition rock sample.

There is described a method for inspecting a structure across a cover layer covering the structure. The method generally has emitting a high energy photon beam along a photon path extending across said cover layer and leading to a target point within said structure, resulting in scattering along at least first and second scatter paths originating from said target point and extending across said cover layer and away therefrom, said first and second scatter paths forming a respective angle relative to said cover layer and defining an inspection plane comprising at least the target point; simultaneously detecting a first scatter signal incoming from said first scatter path and detecting a second scatter signal incoming from said second scatter path, and generating first and second values indicative therefrom; comparing said first and second values to one another; and inspecting said structure based on said comparing.

A method and a related apparatus for performing a tomographic examination of an object (2) which advances through an examination area (6), wherein the examination area (6) is irradiated with x-rays transversally to a motion trajectory of the object (2) and the residual intensity of the x-rays which have crossed the object (2) is repeatedly detected to obtain, for each detection, an electronic two-dimensional pixel map, the two-dimensional maps thus obtained being processed by a computer to obtain a three-dimensional tomographic reconstruction of the object (2); wherein, during the advancement, the object (2) is made or let rotate, at least partly uncontrolled, in such a way that the object (2) rotates around one or more rotation axes which are transversal both to the motion trajectory and to the propagation directions of the x-rays crossing it; and wherein a computer also determines the spatial position in which the object (2) is located relative to the one or more emitters (4) and/or the one or more detectors (5) at the instant when each two-dimensional map is detected, and factors this in the tomographic reconstruction.

Testing systems and methods are provided for a smoking article to determine a characteristic of the smoking article, such as density of a material used therewith. The testing system may include a test fixture and an electromagnetic energy generating device The testing methods may be carried out by subjecting the material to the electromagnetic energy and determining the amount of energy absorbed by the material.

A cabinet X-ray image system for obtaining X-ray images and colorized or grey scale density X-ray images of a specimen includes a sampling chamber for containing the specimen, a display, an X-ray system including, an X-ray source, a photon counting X-ray detector, and a specimen platform, and a controller configured to selectively energize the X-ray source, control the photon counting X-ray detector to collect a projection X-ray image of the specimen when the X-ray source is energized, determine the density of different areas of the specimen from data collected from the photon counting X-ray detector of the projection X-ray image, create a density X-ray image of the specimen wherein different areas of the specimen are indicated as a density or range of densities based on the determined density of different areas of the specimen, and selectively display the density X-ray image of the specimen on the display.

A cabinet X-ray image system for obtaining colorized or greyscale density X-ray images of a specimen has a cabinet defining an interior chamber. The cabinet includes a walled enclosure surrounding the interior chamber, a door configured to cover the interior chamber and a sampling chamber for containing the specimen. The system further includes a display and an X-ray unit. The X-ray unit includes an X-ray source, an X-ray detector and a specimen platform configured to receive the specimen. Moreover, the system includes a controller configured to selectively energize the X-ray source, control the X-ray detector to collect the X-rays, determine the density of different areas of the specimen and create a density X-ray image of the specimen. The density X-ray image is colorized or greyscale. The controller is also configured to selectively display the density X-ray image of the specimen on the display.

An imaging process for industrial equipment is described using gamma-ray or X-ray profiling techniques and tomographic image reconstruction, wherein (a) a radiation emission subsystem with at least one radiation source emits that passes through an industrial equipment to be analyzed by imaging; (b) a radiation detection subsystem with at least one radiation detector detects the energy of the radiation emitted by the radiation emission subsystem that has passed through said industrial equipment; (c) processing and imaging means receive and evaluate the radiation samples detected by the radiation detection subsystem and generate a tomogram of the analyzed region, selecting the radiation samples detected with an energy value within a range of values corresponding to a maximum defined scattering angle of the radiation emitted by the radiation source, and generating a tomographic reconstruction of images of the industrial equipment based on these selected radiation samples.