Synchrotron imaging of ovaries ex Sstu

Conventional ultrasonography is limited in its ability to image small structures within the ovaries (eg. the eggs and surrounding cells, small fluid filled sacs that contain the eggs known as 'early antral follicles', the structure of the ovulation glands). Preliminary data obtained from our research team at the Canadian Light Source (CLS) have indicated that phase-contrast Computed Tomography (CT) synchrotron methods are effective for imaging bovine and human ovaries. Further research conducted by our group at the SPring-8 synchrotron facility in Japan has shown that phase-contrast CT imaging capabilities are significantly improved with the use of diffraction grating equipment. The objective of the proposed internship is to study the effectiveness of diffraction grating techniques for imaging bovine and human ovaries at the CLS. The intern will assist in developing lab safety guidelines for handling biological materials, which will enable the manufacture of synchrotron hardware (eg. sample stages and holders) by the industry sponsor, RMD Engineering. Diffraction-grating synchrotron equipment will be installed and tested at the CLS. We anticipate that this research project will lead to the development of high resolution tools for imaging reproductive tissues, and optimization of synchrotron techniques for biomedical imaging.

Faculty Supervisor:

Drs. Angela Baerwald, Dean Chapman & Gregg Adams

Student:

Upekha Basnayaka

Partner:

RMD Engineering Ltd.

Discipline:

Engineering - biomedical

Sector:

Medical devices

University:

University of Saskatchewan