High throughput 3D x-ray imaging system using a transmission x-ray source

An x-ray imaging system configured to generate an x-ray image of a region of interest in an object, the system comprising:

• at least one x-ray detector;
• an x-ray source configured to produce diverging x-rays, at least some of the diverging x-rays propagate along an x-ray propagation axis extending from the x-ray source, through a three-dimensional field-of-view (3D FOV) within the object, to the at least one x-ray detector, the diverging x-rays having propagation paths within an angular divergence angle greater than 1 degree centered on the x-ray propagation axis;
• an optical microscope aligned relative to the x-ray source, the optical microscope having an optical axis and a focal point configured to overlap at least a portion of the 3D FOV;
• and
• at least one sample motion stage configured to rotate the object about a rotation axis, the optical axis aligned with the rotation axis, wherein the optical microscope is fixed to have the optical axis colinear with the rotation axis.

An x-ray imaging system configured to generate an x-ray image of a region of interest in an object, the system comprising:

• at least one x-ray detector;
• an x-ray source configured to produce diverging x-rays, at least some of the diverging x-rays propagate along an x-ray propagation axis extending from the x-ray source, through a three-dimensional field-of-view (3D FOV) within the object, to the at least one x-ray detector, the diverging x-rays having propagation paths within an angular divergence angle greater than 1 degree centered on the x-ray propagation axis;
• an optical microscope aligned relative to the x-ray source, the optical microscope having an optical axis and a focal point configured to overlap at least a portion of the 3D FOV;
• and
• at least one sample motion stage configured to rotate the object about a rotation axis, the optical axis aligned with the rotation axis, wherein the at least one sample motion stage is configured such that the rotation axis has an angle relative to the x-ray propagation axis in a range of 60 to 85 degrees, wherein a center of the 3D FOV is positioned at an intersection of the rotation axis and the x-ray propagation axis.