Developing next-generation algorithms for X-ray emission micro-tomography
Written by: A. L. Brun, P. Desbarats, J.-F. Giovannelli, C. Michelet, A. Rouwane and H. Seznec
Published on: Summary
X-ray emission micro-imaging, whether induced by protons or synchrotron X-rays (SXRF: Synchrotron X-Ray Fluorescence), enables multi-scale mapping of biologically relevant elements, such as minerals and trace metals, with high mass sensitivity. In 3D tomography, accurate quantification requires data acquisition over a full 180° angular range. However, practical setups often use 2D sample holders for convenience, resulting in a “missing wedge” at grazing angles. Specialized reconstruction algorithms must be developed to address this limitation. They can be validated using Monte Carlo simulations (e.g. Geant4). Alternatively, gVXR provides a faster deterministic method for generating sinograms from digital phantoms. The microscopic roundworm Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans), a key model in genetics, aging, neuroscience, and environmental research, has a highly reproducible internal structure, making it well suited for this development. A realistic digital twin incorporating experimental mass density data is being created. Future work in gVXR aims to model X-ray emission-based micro-tomography, expanding its applicability to techniques like SXRF.
Award
3rd place - Vidal, F. P., Afshari, S., Albiol, A., Albiol, F., Bellot, A., Brun, A. L., Chou, C.-Y., Desbarats, P., García, M., Giovannelli, J.-F., Hatton, C., Henry, A., Kelly, G., Michelet, C., Mihail, R. P., Racy, M., Rouwane, A., Seznec, H., Sújar, A., Tugwell-Allsup, J., and Villard, P.-F.: "X-ray simulations with gVirtualXray in medicine and life sciences". Dirk Bartz Prize for Visual Computing in Medicine and Life Sciences 2025 (Eurographics Medical Prize).
Publication
Vidal, F. P., Afshari, S., Albiol, A., Albiol, F., Bellot, A., Brun, A. L., Chou, C.-Y., Desbarats, P., García, M., Giovannelli, J.-F., Hatton, C., Henry, A., Kelly, G., Michelet, C., Mihail, R. P., Racy, M., Rouwane, A., Seznec, H., Sújar, A., Tugwell-Allsup, J., and Villard, P.-F. (2025). Meuschke, M. & Kuhlen, T. W. (Eds.). “X-ray simulations with gVirtualXray in medicine and life sciences”. Dirk Bartz Prize for Visual Computing in Medicine and Life Sciences 2025 (Eurographics Medical Prize). DOI: 10.2312/evm.20251974
Citation
@INPROCEEDINGS{Vidal2025DirkBartz,
author={F. P. Vidal and S. Afshari and A. Albiol and F. Albiol and
A. Corb\'i Bellot and A. L. Brun and C.-Y. Chou and P. Desbarats and
M. Garc\'ia and J.-F. Giovannelli and C. Hatton and A. Henry and
G. Kelly and C. Michelet and Radu P. Mihail M. Racy and A. Rouwane and
H. Seznec and A. S\'ujar and J. Tugwell-Allsup and P.-F. Villard},
booktitle={Dirk Bartz Prize for Visual Computing in Medicine and
Life Sciences 2025 (Eurographics Medical Prize)},
title={{X-ray simulations with gVirtualXray in medicine and life sciences}},
year=2025,
editor = {Monique Meuschke and Torsten W. Kuhlen},
publisher = {The Eurographics Association},
ISBN = {978-3-03868-281-3},
DOI = {10.2312/evm.20251974}
}