Tomography in school – Optical CT Scanner with Lego and Arduino

Have you ever wondered how a CT scanner actually works? The development of X-ray computed tomography (CT) has been a real innovation in medical and industrial imaging. Wouldn’t it be great if you had the chance to build a CT scanner and use it for your own science projects in school? Optical projection tomography (OPT) implements the same principles like X-ray tomography, but utilises visible light instead, which is harmless for living organisms. Thus, building an optical CT scanner is the most appropriate way to introduce tomography in school.

Students develop a low-cost optical CT scanner and use tomography to investigate transparent objects of their interest, such as gummy bears, candies, fruits and plants. They are familiarized with the basic principles of tomography and simulate the scientific method during their research activities.

Author: Michalis Orfanakis, Greece