In vivo small animal lung speckle imaging with a benchtop in-line XPC system

X-ray phase-contrast (XPC) images of mouse lungs were acquired in vivo with a benchtop XPC system employing a conventional microfocus source. A strong speckled intensity pattern was present in lung regions of the XPC radiographs, previously only observed in synchroton experiments and in situ benchtop studies. We showed how the texture characteristics of the speckle is influenced by the amount of air present in the lungs at different points in the breathing cycle.