Cycloidal Acquisition for Inline Edge Illumination X-ray Phase Contrast Computed Tomography: A Simulation Study

In industrial settings, X-ray imaging is predominantly performed inline, relying on attenuation-based contrast to generate 2D projection images. However, incorporating full 3D reconstructions alongside additional contrast channels can significantly enhance the information gained during inspection. A 2D inline acquisition method has previously been proposed, using a modified edge illumination phase contrast setup to allow the retrieval of multiple complementary contrasts, such as attenuation and phase. Extending this approach to 3D however remains a challenge, requiring a novel movement scheme that integrates sample translation and sample rotation. In this paper, we propose a flexible inline edge illumination CT acquisition scheme that facilitates this extension without any hardware modifications while offering freedom in parameter selection, such as the number of projection angles and IC points.