CTX Imaging by Wm Thomas

Introduction

Remember when you were a child and you fell out of the tree in your back yard and broke your arm. Then having to go to the doctor, who made you hold your arm perfectly still in a painful position why they took an x-ray? Or more recently having to wait in an airport as everyone’s bag has to be checked by security each one seemly taking more time then the previous? Now with advancements in CTX imaging its possible to take 3-D x-ray images in motion, making it possible to scan more luggage in the same amount of time or the ability to watch the internal skeletal system of a flying bird in motion.

I. How does it work:

A. It combines the detailed images of the Computed Tomography(CT) Scan with the frame rates of X-ray video.

II. CTX scanning for explosives:

A. First a high power X-Rays scans the luggage which does two things one it causes radioactive decay in some of the elements in the luggage that release photons which get detected and also looks into the luggage and finds areas of interest within the luggage.

B. Then a CT scan is done on the areas of interest to get a density figured out.

C. Finally the CTX machine puts the two things together calculates if the density of the area and the amount of photons released matches any know contraband or explosives.

III. Is it safe:

A. There are many things that would have radioactive decay that expels photons and get detected as false positives but all but a few of the elements are eliminated by other means.

IV. CTX imaging history:

A. CTX imaging first started development in 1994.

B. First device commission by the Federal Aviation Administration for use in explosives detection.

C. As time went on more and more CTX imaging machines were put in more airports, them became smaller able to mounted to a truck, and faster at scanning luggage going from roughly 300 to almost 600 bags an hour, its expanding its search to not only explosives but other contraband like drugs and weapons

Conclusion:

What does this do for us other then make our world more secure? CTX Scanning makes it possible for those that have mental illnesses that don’t allow them to control their muscles or children who are to young to understand the importance of staying still at those times to get their skeletal structure scanned with out sedatives which have possible side affects all their own. It allows researchers look at the biometrics of the moving skeleton not just of humans but of other animals as well. Also help answer questions like how flight evolved in birds. It could also be a valuable tool for orthopedic surgeons, who might use it to plan better treatments for bone-, ligament- and joint-related injuries.

Works Cited

Mika, Eric, (June 2007). A new medical-imaging system brings skeletons to life in 3-D. Popular Science. Retrieved 9/07, from

www.popsci.com/popsci/technology/3346a311ed203110vgnvcm1000004eecbccdrcrd.html

The Evolution of CTX imaging. Retrieved 9/07, from www.ctximaging.com/

CTX(explosive0detection device), Wikipedia. Retrieved 9/07, from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CTX_9000_DSi

Addy, and Jesus, (June 2007). Creepy Video of Pig's Skull Eating Using CTX Imaging. Gizmodo. Retrieved 9/07, from gizmodo.com/gadgets/exclusive/creepy-video-of-pigs-skull-eating-using-ctx-imaging-271292.php

Kerry W. Habiger, Jerome R. Clifford, R. Bruce Miller, William F. McCullough, (1991). EXDEP/CTX An Explosive Dettection System for Screening Luggage With High Energy X-Rays. Retrieved 9/07, from epaper.kek.jp/p91/PDF/PAC1991_2622.PDF

Bones in Motion: Brown Scientist to Create New 3-D X-ray System. Retrieved 9/07, from www.brown.edu/Administration/News_Bureau/2006-07/06-091.html