X-ray cabinet to deliver highly characterized low-dose soft x-ray radiation to biological samples.

We have designed, built, and tested a climate-controlled, radiation-shielded incubator cabinet for the purpose of analyzing the effects of low-dose x-ray radiation on biological tissues and cell cultures. Bremsstrahlung x rays incident on exchangeable fluorescence plates produce strong, quasi-monochromatic radiation directed toward a small container of biological samples. The x-ray source, sample, and detector are enclosed in an incubator-maintaining the optimal environment for biological samples to increase longevity to a maximum of 72 h.