Abstract
Conventional X-ray computer tomography (CT) is usually used for obtaining information on size, position, and shape of objects. This basic research examines the possibility of using this technology for non-contact measurement of stiffness of tissue. We use animal organs and silicone gum to show that X-ray CT can be used to calculate values that are highly correlated with independently obtained values of stiffness. Results show correlations of R^2 =0.9421 for silicone gum and R^2 =0.9649 for animal organs. Thus, current X-ray CT technology could be a valuable tool for non-contact stiffness measurement. Furthermore, the measured hardness can be visualized from the contrast of an X-ray CT image.
