Abstract: The present invention describes apparatus for penetrating radiation measurements on a biological tissue sample, the apparatus comprising: a tissue sample locator; a source of penetrating radiation; a collimator to direct, in use, radiation from the source into a beam directed at the tissue sample locator; and at least two detectors for detecting radiation from the sample; the at least two detectors being configured to detect radiation from the sample at respective different angles. The present invention also describes analogous apparatus for penetrating radiation measurements on biological tissue samples.

Abstract: The invention describes a method for analysing a body tissue sample, the method comprising irradiating the tissue sample (4) with penetrating radiation and detecting transmitted, (14) and/or scattered radiation (16, 18) from the sample, wherein the duration of the analysis is determined from one or more desired confidence levels based on a model or algorithm defining a relationship between analysis duration and confidence level. The invention also describes apparatus for implementing the method and computer software for controlling the apparatus.

Abstract: The present invention describes a method of creating and/or updating a model that relates to at least one measurable tissue property to at least one tissue characteristic, the method comprising: defining two or more data categories; assigning each of a plurality of training data sets to one or more of the data categories; creating and/or updating the model using only data sets categorised in a selected one of the categories. The present invention also describes a method and system for creating such a model as well as a database structure for storing a plurality of measured tissue property data sets used by the model.

Abstract: The present invention describes a method for analysing body tissue, the method consisting of obtaining data representing a first measured tissue property of a body tissue sample and obtaining data representing a second, different tissue property of the tissue sample, and using the data in combination to provide an analysis of the tissue sample. A method is also described for characterising body tissues as normal or abnormal. The present invention also describes a method for analysing and/or characterising body tissue by obtaining Compton scatter data measured from a body tissue sample on which a penetrating radiation beam is incident and using the data to provide an analysis and/or characterisation of the tissue sample.

Abstract: A method for irradiating a biological tissue sample is provided, the method comprising: irradiating a portion of a biological tissue sample with a penetrating radiation beam for a first exposure period; subsequently irradiating the same or an adjacent biological tissue portion with a penetrating radiation beam for a second exposure period; the radiation dose incident on the tissue sample during the second exposure period being higher than the dose during the first exposure period. Also provided is an apparatus operative in accordance with the method. The method and apparatus have particular application in the characterisation of body tissue by x-ray diffraction, both in vitro and in vivo.