Foreign Media: A Chinese research team has developed the world's smallest CT scanner, capable of analyzing tiny fossils and archaeological artifacts.
The device, developed by a Shandong-based company and named Xtomo-Cube, is about the size of a desktop speaker and weighs only 6 kilograms, making it portable enough to be carried in one hand—earning it the nickname "handheld CT." Its spatial resolution reaches 80 micrometers, roughly equivalent to the width of a human hair, enabling it to detect internal structures of minute objects such as snail shells and medicine capsules. With a power consumption of approximately 200 watts, the device can be powered by a standard mobile power bank during field expeditions.
The development team stated that core components—including the X-ray source, rotating platform, and detector—have all been domestically produced. Compared to previous German counterparts weighing 19 kilograms, this instrument offers enhanced portability and holds promise for applications in archaeology, biological research, and on-site inspections. CT technology generates a three-dimensional model of an object’s interior through multi-angle X-ray scanning and subsequent computer processing.
Original Source: toutiao.com/article/1876503093886988/
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