When labs consider new equipment, the decision isn’t just about the sticker price. Research groups, universities, and quality assurance teams weigh the total cost of ownership: purchase price, infrastructure requirements, maintenance, throughput, and the long-term value of the results.
Micro-CT technology delivers tremendous value. It allows users to generate high-resolution 3D images of internal structures without cutting, destroying, or altering samples. This makes it an indispensable tool for non-destructive testing (NDT) and research. Yet despite its benefits, adoption has been limited. Why? Traditional micro-CT systems are too expensive, too complex, and too demanding for many labs.
That’s where inCiTe™ comes in.
Why Micro-CT Inspection Costs Matter
While the benefits of micro-CT are undeniable, barriers to adoption remain:
High upfront cost: Traditional phase contrast micro-CT systems can be 4–5x more expensive than what many labs can afford.
Specialized infrastructure: Many systems require dedicated lab space, shielding, and facility modifications.
Costly maintenance: Ongoing service contracts and specialized support add to the expense.
Slow throughput: Long scan and reconstruction times delay results, reducing productivity.
For many labs, the trade-off has been clear: stick with less advanced – but more affordable – alternatives. Until now. Fortunately, this is no longer the case. KA Imaging has developed innovative pieces of micro-CT technology, blending high performance 3D imaging with a lower cost than most micro-CT products.
The inCiTe™ Advantage: Affordability Meets Performance
KA Imaging designed inCiTe™ to break down these barriers and make high-performance micro-CT accessible to more teams. inCiTe™ was engineered to overcome common cost-drivers while also having a lower upfront cost than most traditional micro-CT systems.
Lower Upfront Cost
inCiTe™ has ~4-5 x less upfront cost than comparable phase contrast micro-CT systems, which helps make it more immediately accessible to teams with tight budgets.
“’The inCiTe system is the ideal trade-off between technical excellence in X-ray phase-contrast tomography of biological tissues and purchase costs, making it a highly performing yet affordable solution for a wide range of applications in materials science and engineering”
Prof. Gianluca Tozzi, University of Greenwich
Compact, Benchtop Design
Space constraints are no longer a barrier. inCiTe™’s compact, benchtop design minimizes the space and facility requirements associated with traditional high-performance imaging systems, making it a practical option for small labs and universities.
Faster Imaging and Higher Throughput
inCiTe™ has efficient image acquisition which saves valuable time. With the help of our BrillianSe™ X-ray Detector, images are captured faster than comparable systems.
High DQE and Phase Contrast Clarity
With high detective quantum efficiency (DQE), inCiTe™ captures clear, high-resolution images at smaller doses, reducing power consumption and minimizing the need for repeat scans. Phase contrast further enhances fine-detail analysis, especially for low-density samples.
Total Cost of Ownership: inCiTe™ vs. Traditional Systems
Traditional micro-CT systems carry hidden costs, such as:
- Infrastructure modifications.
- Expensive service contracts.
- Lost time due to slow image acquisition.
inCiTe™ was engineered to minimize these drivers. The result: a system that is not only more affordable upfront, but also saves money every day it’s in use.
When Affordability Expands Access
Affordable high-performance micro-CT isn’t just a financial win: it opens doors for groups that previously couldn’t justify the investment.
- Small Labs and Universities: Small labs and universities typically operate in very constrained conditions, with limited funding and not much space for large inspection equipment. inCiTe™ has a compact design and lower cost, making it a great choice that addresses the limitations apparent in educational environments.
- Manufacturing and Quality Assurance Teams: Being focussed on quality control and failure analysis, quality assurance teams need a streamlined and accurate non-destructive inspection solution. It’s important that the object stays intact while testing, and is able to be processed quickly to reduce downtime. inCiTe™ stands out as a high-quality micro-CT inspection tool with quick image acquisition and high phase contrast that makes it easier to detect issues and get products on the market sooner.
- Research Groups with Limited Budgets: When needing to stay within a certain budget, small research groups often sacrifice capability to meet costs. inCiTe™’s advanced imaging capabilities such as phase contrast, fine-detail resolution, and high DQE, eliminate the need to compromise. It offers the same high-end capabilities but at a reasonable price point for research groups with limited funding.
Two Versions of inCiTe™ to Fit Your Needs
inCiTe™ was designed to make high-resolution micro-CT more accessible. We now offer two system configurations so teams can choose the solution that best meets their imaging requirements and budget.
inCiTe™
A compact, benchtop 3D X-ray microscope ideal for universities, R&D labs, and cost-conscious QA teams. It features:
- Propagation-based phase contrast for enhanced soft tissue and polymer visualization
- 8 µm pixel BrillianSe™ detector with direct conversion a-Se technology
- Spatial resolution down to 5.6 µm (0.1 MTF at 90 cy/mm)
- Compact footprint and fast startup—scan in under 20 minutes with minimal setup
inCiTe™ 2.0
Our advanced micro-CT platform, designed for higher throughput and broader application scope:
- Dual-source compatibility up to 130 kV, including 2 µm and 5 µm spot sizes
- Multi-modal imaging: phase contrast plus dual/triple-energy spectral imaging via Reveal™ detector
- Large sample capacity (up to 300 mm diameter) and submicron voxel resolution
- Modular architecture allows in-situ upgrades and integration of custom stages
Ready to learn if our affordable micro-CT technology meets your needs?