X-ray System to Show Moving Bones in 3-D

New project, being developed at Brown University, promises to improve our understanding of the complex motions of bones and joints

New project, being developed at Brown University, promises to improve our understanding of the complex motions of bones and joints:

Computed tomography, or CT, delivers detailed 3-D images, but CT scanners are too slow to capture rapid motion. Cinefluoroscopy, a technique that uses X-rays to view objects, can produce moving images in two dimensions, but not 3-D.

An orthopedic surgeon trying to figure out the best way to repair a torn knee ligament or an evolutionary biologist tracing the disappearance of digits in pigs would face a difficult task. To see the exact position and movement of bones and the ligaments, tendons and cartilage that surround them, would require cutting into flesh -- not a desirable option.

The new system, dubbed CTX, will combine the 3-D capability of CT scanners and the real-time movement tracking of cinefluoroscopy. CTX technology is expected to deliver images with exceptional precision and detail. Researchers will be able to track 3-D skeletal movements with 0.1 millimeter accuracy and see the equivalent of 1,000 CT images per second.

The result will be a powerful tool with applications for basic and applied research:

· testing new theories of biomechanics, such as muscle-tendon interactions;

· studying the evolution of bodies and how they move, such as birds' multijointed wings;

· planning orthopedic surgeries and comparing the effectiveness of different approaches;

· creating better treatments for shoulder, wrist, knee and back injuries;

· driving innovations in computer graphics and scientific visualization.

Source-Bio-Bio Technology
SRM