Abstract-- Synchrotron based digital radiography and microtomography devices are powerful, non-destructive, high- resolution research tools. In this study, we present a linear system capable of a nominal spatial resolution of 22.5 micrometers over a Field-Of-View (FOV) of 13 cm long and about 1 mm high. The system is composed of a linear converter GOS screen coupled to an intensified Electron-Bombarded CCD (EBCCD) camera, by means of a rectangular-to-linear fiber optic adapter. This optical guide is composed of seven bundles, each one transporting light in a coherent way to preserve spatial information. In this way, a high spatial resolution over an extended FOV is obtained. The detector works as an X-ray scanner by means of a high-precision translation mechanical device. Here we present an investigation gained at ELETTRA synchrotron facility at Trieste (Italy). A monochromatic 34 keV has been used for imaging a human proximal femur, 9 cm in width, with our system. The excellent spatial resolution of the system allows the analysis of the trabecular structure of the bone over the entire FOV of about 10 cm. I. INTRODUCTION icro-computed tomography (MCT) and digital radiography (DR) are nondestructive techniques which provide high resolution images of the internal structures of the investigated objects. In addition, MCT images can be elaborated for the realization of high quality 3D digital reconstructions and models. Such 3D reconstructions can be used to visualize hidden structures and details, to investigate fine morphological variation, to perform advanced morphometric analyses. Synchrotron radiation X-ray sources offer high photon intensity, good collimation and a broad continuous energy range from which almost any desired spectral region can be selected with a very high resolution in energy. Synchrotron radiation pushes high-resolution examinations to the micrometer range. In addition, the use of a monochromatic source improves tomography examinations, by eliminating beam-hardening artifacts. For these reasons, This work was supported in part by the University of Bologna (funds for selected research topics). M. Bettuzzi, R. Brancaccio, F. Casali, S. Cornacchia, E. Di Nicola, N. Lanconelli, M.P. Morigi, A. Pasini, D. Romani, and A. Rossi are with the Physics Department, University of Bologna and INFN, Viale Berti-Pichat 6/2, I-40127 Bologna, Italy (telephone: +39-051-2095131, e-mail: casali@bo.infn.it). L. Mancini is with Sincrotrone Trieste S.C.p.A., I-34012 Basovizza, Trieste Italy . tremendous efforts are made all over the world to develop synchrotron-based microtomography devices. Osteoporosis is a major health problem and the possibility of predicting the risk of fracture is vital for patients. Bone strength depends on quantitative properties as well as properties of bone quality such as the structure parameters of trabecular bone. The architectural structure of bone can be investigated with high accuracy through histological sectioning in human biopsies. However, this method is highly invasive and destroys the object investigated. MCT can be used as a non-invasive technique for analyzing the structure of trabecular bone, thanks to its excellent spatial resolution. The purpose of this study is to investigate the performance of a CCD-based system with a nominal spatial resolution of 22.5 micrometers extended over a FOV of 13 cm long and about 1 mm high. This is obtained by using a distinctive fiber- optic ribbon, which converts a linear geometry to a rectangular one. The system has been patented by the University of Bologna and already been used and tested for non-medical applications [1,2,3]. In this work a scan of a human proximal femur is presented. The very good spatial resolution of the system allows the analysis of bone structure, in order to investigate changes in the trabecular structure caused by osteoporosis. II. MATERIALS AND METHODS The essential components for an MCT system are a microfocus (or a synchrotron) source, a precise object manipulator, and a high resolution X-ray detector. Our system is composed of a sample-handler consisting of a rotation and translation stage. The object can be translated in z direction and rotated with high positional accuracy. Not only the rotative scanning, but also other motions such as helical scanning are also possible with this manipulator. This turntable stage allows multi-slice tomographic analysis. A two dimensional radiography can therefore be obtained, by translating the object in front of the linear detector. The maximum scanning length is limited to 20 cm by the mechanical travel range. The detector consists of a linear converter GOS screen (129 mm × 1.45 mm) coupled to an intensified Electron-Bombarded CCD (EBCCD) camera, by means of a rectangular-to-linear fiber optic adapter. This optical guide is composed of seven bundles, High resolution X-ray analysis of a proximal human femur with synchrotron radiation and an innovative linear detector Matteo Bettuzzi, Rosa Brancaccio, Franco Casali, Samantha Cornacchia, Emilia Di Nicola, Nico Lanconelli, Lucia Mancini, Maria Pia Morigi, Alessandro Pasini, Davide Romani, Alberto Rossi M 0-7803-8701-5/04/$20.00 (C) 2004 IEEE 0-7803-8700-7/04/$20.00 (C) 2004 IEEE 3312