Application of microbeam analysis of biomedical samples

Abstract The microbeam facilities at the SUNY/Albany Linear Accelerator Laboratory have several computer controlled features which make it a very useful tool for trace element analysis in biomedical samples, some of which are: (a) simultaneous collection of RBS and PIXE data; (b) reconstruction of the image as well as mapping of the distribution of elements on the surface of the sample; (c) control of the X − Y stage for the sample holder; and (d) an autoalign system to correct for small amounts of beamdrift to keep the beam properly focused on the target. Trace elements in three biomedical samples — liver, muscle and spleen from a mouse — were measured using a 2.5 MeV H + microbeam. PIXE showed trace amounts of elements (12 ≤ Z ≤ 37) in the sample, some of which were not observed in RIXRF. RBS was used to profile Fe and Zn in all three samples. These initial measurements were encouraging to the extent that a systematic use of the microbeam as a diagnostic tool is being planned and is discussed in this presentation.