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X-ray computed tomography (XCT) is increasingly used for dimensional metrology, where it can offer accurate measurements of internal features that are not accessible with other techniques. However, XCT scanning can be relatively slow, which often prevents routine uptake for many applications. This paper explores the feasibility of improving the speed of XCT measurements while maintaining the quality of the dimensional measurements derived from reconstructed volumes. In particular, we compare two approaches to fast XCT acquisition, the use of fewer XCT projections as well as the use of shortened x-ray exposure times for each projection. The study shows that the additional Poisson noise produced by reducing the exposure for each projection has significantly less impact on dimensional measurements compared to the artefacts associated with strategies that take fewer projection images, leading to about half the measurement error variability. Advanced reconstruction algorithms such as the conjugate gradient least squares method or total variation constrained approaches, are shown to allow further improvements in measurement speed, though this can come at the cost of increased measurement bias (e.g. 2.8% increase in relative error in one example) and variance (e.g. 25% in the same example).

3D tomographic imaging requires the computation of solutions to very large inverse problems. In many applications, iterative algorithms provide superior results, however, memory limits in available computing hardware restrict the size of problems that can be solved. For this reason, iterative methods are not normally used to reconstruct typical data sets acquired with lab based CT systems. We thus use state of the art techniques such as dual buffering to develop an efficient strategy to compute the required operations for iterative reconstruction. This allows the iterative reconstruction of volumetric images of arbitrary size using any number of GPUs, each with arbitrarily small memory. Strategies for both the forward and backprojection operators are presented, along with two regularization approaches that are easily generalized to other projection types or regularizers. The proposed improvement also accelerates reconstruction of smaller images on single or multiple GPU systems, providing faster code for time-critical applications. The resulting algorithm has been added to the TIGRE toolbox, a repository for iterative reconstruction algorithms for general CT, but this memory-saving and problem-splitting strategy can be easily adapted for use with other GPU-based tomographic reconstruction code.

High-contrast, high-resolution imaging of biomedical specimens is indispensable for studying organ function and pathologies. Conventional histology, the gold standard for soft-tissue visualization, is limited by its anisotropic spatial resolution, elaborate sample preparation, and lack of quantitative image information. X-ray absorption or phase tomography have been identified as promising alternatives enabling non-destructive, distortion-free three-dimensional (3D) imaging. However, reaching sufficient contrast and resolution with a simple experimental procedure remains a major challenge. Here, we present a solution based on x-ray phase tomography through speckle-based imaging (SBI). We demonstrate on a mouse kidney that SBI delivers comprehensive 3D maps of hydrated, unstained soft tissue, revealing its microstructure and delivering quantitative tissue-density values at a density resolution of better than 2 m g / c m 3 and spatial resolution of better than 8 µm. We expect that SBI virtual histology will find widespread application in biomedicine and will open up new possibilities for research and histopathology.

Purpose: In dental offices, there is a trend replacing conventional silicone impressions and plaster cast models by imaging data of intraoral scanners to map the denture and surrounding tissues. The aim of the study is the analysis of the accuracy of selected commercially available scanners. The accuracy is considered as the main drawback in comparison to the conventional approach. Approach: We evaluated the reproduction performance of five optical scanners by a direct comparison with high-resolution hard x-ray computed tomography data, all obtained from a polyetheretherketone model with similarity to a full-arch upper jaw. Results: Using the software GOM Inspect (GOM GmbH, Braunschweig, Germany), we could classify the intraoral scanners into two groups. The more accurate instruments gave rise to the following precision values: 35 μm (TRIOS® 3, 3shape, Copenhagen, Denmark), 43 μm (CS 3600, Carestream, Atlanta, Georgia), and 46 μm (3M™ True Definition Scanner, 3M ESPE, St. Paul, Minnesota). The less precise systems yielded 93 μm (Medit i500, Medit corp., Seongbuk-gu, South Korea) and 97 μm (Emerald™, Planmeca Oy, Helsinki, Finland). Conclusions: The selected scanners are suitable for single crowns, small bridges, and separate quadrants prostheses. Scanners based on triangulation are hardly appropriate for full-arch prostheses. Besides precision, however, the choice of the scanner depends on scanning time, intraoral-camera size, and the user’s learning curve. The developed protocol, which includes three-dimensional (3D) imaging and advanced computational tools for the registration with the design data, will be increasingly used in geometrical metrology by nondestructive procedures to perform dimensional measurements with micrometer precision and is capable for detailed 3D geometrical models reconstruction.

X-ray phase-contrast techniques are powerful methods for discerning features with similar densities, which are normally indistinguishable with conventional absorption contrast. While these techniques are well-established tools at large-scale synchrotron facilities, efforts have increasingly focused on implementations at laboratory sources for widespread use. X-ray speckle-based imaging is one of the phase-contrast techniques with high potential for translation to conventional x-ray systems. It yields phase-contrast, transmission, and dark-field images with high sensitivity using a relatively simple and cost-effective setup tolerant to divergent and polychromatic beams. Recently, we have introduced the unified modulated pattern analysis (UMPA) [Phys. Rev. Lett. 118, 203903 (2017)PRLTAO0031-900710.1103/PhysRevLett.118.203903], which further simplifies the translation of x-ray speckle-based imaging to low-brilliance sources. Here, we present the proof-of-principle implementation of UMPA speckle-based imaging at a microfocus liquid-metal-jet x-ray laboratory source.

Following the principles of "morphology reveals biomechanics," the cartilage-osseous interface and the trabecular network show defined adaptation in response to physiological loading. In the case of a compromised relationship, the ability to support the load diminishes and the onset of osteoarthritis (OA) may arise. To describe and quantify the changes within the subchondral bone plate (SBP) and trabecular architecture, 10 human OA patellae were investigated by CT and micro-CT. The results are presented in comparison to a previously published dataset of 10 non-OA patellae which were evaluated in the same manner. The analyzed OA samples showed no distinctive mineralization pattern in regards to the physiological biomechanics, but a highly irregular disseminated distribution. In addition, no regularity in bone distribution and architecture across the trabecular network was found. We observed a decrease of material as the bone volume and trabecular thickness/number were significantly reduced. In comparison to non-OA samples, greatest differences for all parameters were found within the first mm of trabecular bone. The differences decreased toward the fifth mm in a logarithmic manner. The interpretation of the logarithmic relation leads to the conclusion that the main impact of OA on bony structures is located beneath the SBP and lessens with depth. In addition to the clear difference in material with approximately 12% less bone volume in the first mm in OA patellae, the architectural arrangement is more rod-like and isotropic, accounting for an architectural decrease in stability and support. © 2016 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 35:1982-1989, 2017.

Computed laminography (CL), a long established NDT method, is ideal for the non-destructive evaluation of plate-like structures, for which conventional computed tomography (CT) is less well suited. This paper demonstrates the feasibility of implementing raster CL on a Nikon Metrology custom build X-ray CT scanner without the need for specialised equipment. To provide a more principled way to demonstrate the widespread adoption of CL for defect characterization in plate-like structures, a test specimen was designed and manufactured from Polyoxymethylene (Delrin) that allows well defined features of different size and orientation to be characterized. The study highlights the relation between direction-dependent spatial resolution, feature geometry and scan trajectory. It demonstrates that high-resolution and high-speed in situ volume-imaging of plate-like structures with large aspect ratios is viable at levels that would be challenging via CT or alternative three-dimensional NDT methods.

Hard X-ray tomography with Paganin's widespread single-distance phase retrieval filter improves contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) while reducing spatial resolution (SR). We demonstrate that a Gaussian filter provided larger CNR at high SR with interpretable density measurements for two medically relevant soft tissue samples. Paganin's filter produced larger CNR at low SR, though \emph{a priori} assumptions were generally false and image quality gains diminish for CNR $>1$. Therefore, simple absorption measurements of low-$Z$ specimens combined with Gaussian filtering can provide improved image quality and model-independent density measurements compared to single-distance phase retrieval., This article may be downloaded for personal use only. Any other use requires prior permission of the author and AIP Publishing. This article appeared in Applied Physics Letters 116, 023702 (2020), and may be found at https://aip.scitation.org/doi/10.1063/1.5133742

X-ray phase-contrast and dark-field imaging provides valuable, complementary information about the specimen under study. Among the multimodal X-ray imaging methods, X-ray grating interferometry and speckle-based imaging have drawn particular attention, which, however, in their common implementations incur certain limitations that can restrict their range of applications. Recently, the unified modulated pattern analysis (UMPA) approach was proposed to overcome these limitations and combine grating- and speckle-based imaging in a single approach. Here, we demonstrate the multimodal imaging capabilities of UMPA and highlight its tunable character regarding spatial resolution, signal sensitivity and scan time by using different reconstruction parameters., Journal of Instrumentation, 13, ISSN:1748-0221

Micro computed tomography has been combined with dedicated data analysis for the in vitro quantification of sub-surface enamel lesion mineralization. Two artificial white spot lesions, generated on a human molar crown in vitro, were examined. One lesion was treated with a self-assembling peptide intended to trigger nucleation of hydroxyapatite crystals. We non-destructively determined the local X-ray attenuation within the specimens before and after treatment. The three-dimensional data was rigidly registered. Three interpolation methods, i.e., nearest neighbor, tri-linear, and tri-cubic interpolation were evaluated. The mineralization of the affected regions was quantified via joint histogram analysis, i.e., a voxel-by-voxel comparison of the tomography data before and after mineralization. After ten days incubation, the mean mineralization coefficient reached 35.5% for the peptide-treated specimen compared to 11.5% for the control. This pilot study does not give any evidence for the efficacy of peptide treatment nor allows estimating the necessary number of specimens to achieve significance, but shows a sound methodological approach on the basis of the joint histogram analysis.

There have been great efforts on the nanoscale 3D probing of brain tissues to image subcellular morphologies. However, limitations in terms of tissue coverage, anisotropic resolution, stain dependence, and complex sample preparation all hinder achieving a better understanding of the human brain functioning in the subcellular context. Herein, X-ray nanoholotomography is introduced as an emerging synchrotron radiation-based technology for large-scale, label-free, direct imaging with isotropic voxel sizes down to 25 nm, exhibiting a spatial resolution down to 88 nm. The procedure is nondestructive as it does not require physical slicing. Hence, it allows subsequent imaging by complementary techniques, including histology. The feasibility of this 3D imaging approach is demonstrated on human cerebellum and neocortex specimens derived from paraffin-embedded tissue blocks. The obtained results are compared to hematoxylin and eosin stained histological sections and showcase the ability for rapid hierarchical neuroimaging and automatic rebuilding of the neuronal architecture at the level of a single cell nucleolus. The findings indicate that nanoholotomography can complement microscopy not only by large isotropic volumetric data but also by morphological details on the sub-100 nm level, addressing many of the present challenges in brain tissue characterization and probably becoming an important tool in nanoanatomy.

Carious lesions exhibit a complex structural organization composed of zones of higher and lower mineralization, formed by successive periods of cyclic de- and re-mineralization. A thorough understanding of the lesion morphology is necessary for the development of suitable treatments aiming to repair rather than replace the damaged tissue. This detailed understanding includes the entire lesion down to individual crystallites and nanopores within the natural organization of the crown. A moderate lesion, with surface loss and reaching dentin, and a very early lesion were studied. Scanning small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) with a pixel size of 20 × 20 μm(2) was used to characterize these lesions, allowing for the identification of distinct zones with varied absorption and scattering behavior, indicative of varied porosity and pore morphology. Despite these differences, the overall orientation and anisotropy of the SAXS signal was unaltered throughout both lesions, indicating that an anisotropic scaffold is still present in the lesion. The finding that crystallite orientation is preserved throughout the lesions facilitates the identification of preventive re-mineralizing strategies with the potential to recreate the original nanostructure.

Applied physics letters 114(8), 083702 (2019). doi:10.1063/1.5085302, Advances in high-resolution hard X-ray computed tomography have led to the field of virtual histology to complement histopathological analyses. Phase-contrast modalities have been favored because, for soft tissues, the real part of the refractive index is orders of magnitude greater than the imaginary part. Nevertheless, absorption-contrast measurements of paraffin-embedded tissues have provided exceptionally high contrast combined with a submicron resolution. In this work, we present a quantitative comparison of phase tomography using synchrotron radiation-based X-ray double grating interferometry and conventional synchrotron radiation-based computed tomography in the context of histopathologically relevant paraffin-embedded human brain tissue. We determine the complex refractive index and compare the contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) of each modality, accounting for the spatial resolution and optimizing the photon energy for absorption tomography. We demonstrate that the CNR in the phase modality is 1.6 times higher than the photon-energy optimized and spatial resolution-matched absorption measurements. We predict, however, that a further optimized phase tomography will provide a CNR gain of 4. This study seeks to boost the discussion of the relative merits of phase and absorption modalities in the context of paraffin-embedded tissues for virtual histology, highlighting the importance of optimization procedures for the two complementary modes and the trade-off between spatial and density resolution, not to mention the disparity in data acquisition and processing., Published by American Inst. of Physics, Melville, NY

Purpose: Certain regions of the talar trochlea are recognized as exhibiting varying cartilage thickness and degrees of subchondral bone mineralization. These changes have been attributed to the long-term loading history. For the current study, we accepted the hypothesis that stress-induced alterations of the joint surface include not only varying degrees of subchondral lamellar mineralization, but also structural changes of the subarticular cancellous bone. Methods: In order to examine the structure of the subarticular cancellous bone, ten formalin-fixed talar trochleae were analyzed using micro CT. Sixteen measurement zones were defined and then evaluated in five layers each of 1-mm thickness, enabling assessment of the cancellous architecture extending 5mm below the trochlear surface using numerical and structural parameters. Results: As with mineralization patterns in the subchondral lamella, large variation was observed regarding bone volume, trabecular quantity, thickness, and spacing, as well as for structure model index and degree of anisotropy, depending on localization. In addition, like previous reports examining mineralization of the subchondral lamella, two distinct groups could be identified as "bicentric” or "monocentric”. Conclusions: These results show that structural tissue adaptation probably due to loading history is also evident within the subarticular cancellous bone

[Proceedings] - , 2016. - ISBN - doi:10.1117/12.2238702 Developments in X-Ray Tomography X, San Diego, California, 28 Aug 2016 - 1 Sep 2016; Proceedings of SPIE 9967, 99670O (2016). doi:10.1117/12.2238702, Heart disease is the number one cause of death worldwide. To improve therapy and patient outcome, the knowledge of anatomical changes in terms of lumen morphology and tissue composition of constricted arteries is crucial for designing a localized drug delivery to treat atherosclerosis disease. Traditional tissue characterization by histology is a pivotal tool, although it brings disadvantages such as vessel morphology modification during decalcification and slicing. X-ray tomography in absorption and phase contrast modes yields a deep understanding in blood vessel anatomy in healthy and diseased stages: measurements in absorption mode make visible highly absorbing tissue components including cholesterol plaques, whereas phase contrast tomography gains better contrast of the soft tissue components such as vessel walls. Established synchrotron radiation-based micro-CT techniques ensure high performance in terms of 3D visualization of highly absorbing and soft tissues., Published by SPIE, Bellingham, Wash.

Histological examination achieves sub-micrometer resolution laterally. In the third dimension, however, resolution is limited to section thickness. In addition, histological sectioning and mounting sections on glass slides introduce tissue-dependent stress and strain. In contrast, state-of-the-art hard X-ray micro computed tomography (μCT) systems provide isotropic sub-micrometer resolution and avoid sectioning artefacts. The drawback of μCT in the absorption contrast mode for visualising physically soft tissue is a low attenuation difference between anatomical features. In this communication, we demonstrate that formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded human cerebellum yields appropriate absorption contrast in laboratory-based μCT data, comparable to conventional histological sections. Purkinje cells, for example, are readily visible. In order to investigate the pros and cons of complementary approaches, two- and three-dimensional data were manually and automatically registered. The joint histogram of histology and the related μCT slice allows for a detailed discussion on how to integrate two-dimensional information from histology into a three-dimensional tomography dataset. This methodology is not only rewarding for the analysis of the human cerebellum, but it also has relevance for investigations of tissue biopsies and post-mortem applications. Our data indicate that laboratory-based μCT as a modality can fill the gap between synchrotron radiation-based μCT and histology for a variety of tissues. As the information from haematoxylin and eosin (H&E) stained sections and μCT data is related, one can colourise local X-ray absorption values according to the H&E stain. Hence, μCT data can correlate and virtually extend two-dimensional (2D) histology data into the third dimension.

The simultaneous post mortem visualization of soft and hard tissues using absorption-based CT remains a challenge. If the photon energy is optimized for the visualization of hard tissue, the surrounding soft tissue components are almost X-ray transparent. Therefore, the combination with other modalities such as phase-contrast CT, magnetic resonance microscopy, and histology is essential to detect the anatomical features. The combination of the 2D and 3D data sets using sophisticated segmentation and registration tools allows for conclusions about otherwise inaccessible anatomical features essential for improved patient treatments.

X-ray grating interferometry-based computed tomography is a phase contrast imaging technique that provides non-destructive, quantitative, and three-dimensional visualization with contrast superior to traditional absorption-based techniques, especially for materials primarily composed of low Z elements, such as biological tissues. However, it relies on measurements of the lateral shift of an interference pattern and is thus susceptible to so-called phase wrapping artifacts, which mainly occur at the sample-air interface. In this work, we present an algorithm for removal of such artifacts in the case of cylindrical samples and an experiment to verify its accuracy. The proposed algorithm is applied to the sinogram after phase retrieval and prior to reconstruction by finding sample edges with the absorption sinogram and replacing regions of the phase wrapped sinogram with modeled data. Our measurements show that the algorithm removes artifacts and produces more accurate δ values, as validated by measurements without phase wrapping. Our correction algorithm allows for measurements without submerging the sample in a water bath, simplifying the experimental setup and avoiding motion artifacts from gas bubbles.

Radiography has long been the standard approach to characterize carious lesions. Spatially resolved X-ray diffraction, specifically small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), has recently been applied to caries research. The aims of this combined SAXS and micro computed tomography (&micro, CT) study were to locally characterize and compare the micro- and nanostructures of one natural carious lesion and of one artificially induced enamel lesion, and demonstrate the feasibility of an automated approach to combined SAXS and &micro, CT data in segmenting affected and unaffected enamel. Enamel, demineralized by natural or artificial caries, exhibits a significantly reduced X-ray attenuation compared to sound enamel and gives rise to a drastically increased small-angle scattering signal associated with the presence of nanometer-size pores. In addition, X-ray scattering allows the assessment of the overall orientation and the degree of anisotropy of the nanostructures present. Subsequent to the characterization with &micro, CT, specimens were analyzed using synchrotron radiation-based SAXS in transmission raster mode. The bivariate histogram plot of the projected data combined the local scattering signal intensity with the related X-ray attenuation from &micro, CT measurements. These histograms permitted the segmentation of anatomical features, including the lesions, with micrometer precision. The natural and artificial lesions showed comparable features, but they also exhibited size and shape differences. The clear identification of the affected regions and the characterization of their nanostructure allow the artificially induced lesions to be verified against selected natural carious lesions, offering the potential to optimize artificial demineralization protocols. Analysis of joint SAXS and &micro, CT histograms objectively segmented sound and affected enamel.

Atherosclerosis refers to narrowing or blocking of blood vessels that can lead to a heart attack, chest pain or stroke. Constricted segments of diseased arteries exhibit considerably increased wall shear stress, compared to the healthy ones. One of the possibilities to improve patient's treatment is the application of nano-therapeutic approaches, based on shear stress sensitive nano-containers. In order to tailor the chemical composition and subsequent physical properties of such liposomes, one has to know precisely the morphology of critically stenosed arteries at micrometre resolution. It is often obtained by means of histology, which has the drawback of offering only two-dimensional information. Additionally, it requires the artery to be decalcified before sectioning, which might lead to deformations within the tissue. Micro computed tomography (muCT) enables the three-dimensional (3D) visualization of soft and hard tissues at micrometre level. muCT allows lumen segmentation that is crucial for subsequent flow simulation analysis. In this communication, tomographic images of a human coronary artery before and after decalcification are qualitatively and quantitatively compared. We analyse the cross section of the diseased human coronary artery before and after decalcification, and calculate the lumen area of both samples.

There is a lack of the necessary methodology for three-dimensional (3D) investigation of soft tissues with cellular resolution without staining or tissue transformation. Synchrotron radiation based hard X-ray in-line phase contrast tomography using single-distance phase reconstruction (SDPR) provides high spatial resolution and density contrast for the visualization of individual cells using a standard specimen preparation and data reconstruction. In this study, we demonstrate the 3D characterization of a formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) human cerebellum specimen by SDPR at the Diamond-Manchester Imaging Branchline I13-2 (Diamond Light Source, UK) at pixel sizes down to 0.45 μm. The approach enables visualization of cerebellar layers (Stratum moleculare and Stratum granulosum), the 3D characterization of individual cells (Purkinje, stellate and granule cells) and can even resolve some subcellular structures (nucleus and nucleolus of Purkinje cells). The tomographic results are qualitatively compared to hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) stained histological sections. We demonstrate the potential benefits of hard X-ray microtomography for the investigations of biological tissues in comparison to conventional histology.

Computed tomography reaches the best spatial resolution for the three-dimensional visualization of human tissues among the available nondestructive clinical imaging techniques. Nowadays, sub-millimeter voxel sizes are regularly obtained. Regarding investigations on true micrometer level, lab-based micro-CT (μCT) has become gold standard. The aim of the present study is firstly the hierarchical investigation of a human knee post mortem using hard X-ray μCT and secondly a multimodal imaging using absorption and phase contrast modes in order to investigate hard (bone) and soft (cartilage) tissues on the cellular level. After the visualization of the entire knee using a clinical CT, a hierarchical imaging study was performed using the lab-system nanotom® m. First, the entire knee was measured with a pixel length of 65 μm. The highest resolution with a pixel length of 3 μm could be achieved after extracting cylindrically shaped plugs from the femoral bones. For the visualization of the cartilage, grating-based phase contrast μCT (I13-2, Diamond Light Source) was performed. With an effective voxel size of 2.3 μm it was possible to visualize individual chondrocytes within the cartilage.

Appropriate mechanical stimulation of bony tissue enhances osseointegration of load-bearing implants. Uniaxial compression of porous implants locally results in tensile and compressive strains. Their experimental determination is the objective of this study. Selective laser melting is applied to produce open-porous NiTi scaffolds of cubic units. To measure displacement and strain fields within the compressed scaffold, the authors took advantage of synchrotron radiation-based micro computed tomography during temperature increase and non-rigid three-dimensional data registration. Uniaxial scaffold compression of 6% led to local compressive and tensile strains of up to 15%. The experiments validate modeling by means of the finite element method. Increasing the temperature during the tomography experiment from 15 to 37 °C at a rate of 4 K h−1, one can locally identify the phase transition from martensite to austenite. It starts at ∼24 °C on the scaffolds bottom, proceeds up towards the top and terminates at ∼34 °C on the periphery of the scaffold. The results allow not only design optimization of the scaffold architecture, but also estimation of maximal displacements before cracks are initiated and of optimized mechanical stimuli around porous metallic load-bearing implants within the physiological temperature range.

The geometric characterization of low-voltage dielectric electro-active polymer (EAP) structures, comprised of nanometer thickness but areas of square centimeters, for applications such as artificial sphincters requires methods with nanometer precision. Direct optical detection is usually restricted to sub-micrometer resolution because of the wavelength of the light applied. Therefore, we propose to take advantage of the cantilever bending system with optical readout revealing a sub-micrometer resolution at the deflection of the free end. It is demonstrated that this approach allows us to detect bending of rather conventional planar asymmetric, dielectric EAP-structures applying voltages well below 10 V. For this purpose, we built 100 μm-thin silicone films between 50 nm-thin silver layers on a 25 μm-thin polyetheretherketone (PEEK) substrate. The increase of the applied voltage in steps of 50 V until 1 kV resulted in a cantilever bending that exhibits only in restricted ranges the expected square dependence. The mean laser beam displacement on the detector corresponded to 6 nm per volt. The apparatus will therefore become a powerful mean to analyze and thereby improve low-voltage dielectric EAP-structures to realize nanometer-thin layers for stack actuators to be incorporated into artificial sphincter systems for treating severe urinary and fecal incontinence.

The production of dental inlays and crowns requires precise information on patients’ teeth morphology. The conventional method is the preparation of impressions using mold materials, e.g. a silicone impression material. The disadvantage of this technique is the human choke impulse and the flavor of the material. These discomforts can be avoided by methods where a three-dimensional scanner is used for recording the teeth morphology. The present study reveals the accuracy of three model types, namely conventional impression, rapid prototyping using an oral scanner C.O.S., 3M (Schweiz) AG and milling from a proprietary resin using the oral scanner iTero, Straumann Holding AG. For each method five models were fabricated from a steel reference (standard). Using a nanotom m (phoenixǀx-ray, GE Sensing and Inspection Technologies GmbH), three-dimensional micro computed tomography data sets of the standard and the 15 models were recorded and landmark distances within the data sets were measured with sub-pixel accuracy. To verify these results a coordinate measuring machine (Leitz PMM 864, Hexagon Metrology GmbH) based on tactile detection was used for the measurement of the landmark distances, and a correction of the distances measured by the nanotom m was arranged. The nanotom data sets of the 15 models were also compared to the standard by means of a non-rigid registration algorithm. The calculated deformation field exhibited mean pixel displacement values of (0.19 ± 0.09) mm for the C.O.S. models, (0.12 ± 0.07) mm for the gypsum models and (0.19 ± 0.12) mm for the i-Tero models.

Modification and functionalization of substrates can lead to the presence at materials surfaces of molecular nanostructures. Their 2D packing and chemical functionalities may impart to surfaces particular properties that can be very different from the pristine ones. Modification is a very general term concerning every kind of treatment leading to change the physical morphology or surface chemistry of a given material in order to obtain tailored properties with dependence on the material application field. Functionalization is mainly related to the introduction at a surface of chemical groups with a variable surface density which are requested to subsequently react with other species. When a process or a group of processes are applied to the surface of an inorganic or organicmaterial, affecting both topography/morphology and surface chemistry at the micro- and/or nanoscale level, the material surface results physically and chemically patterned. In the following the main modification, functionalization, and patterning surface techniques will be described according to process methods, substrate chemistry, and nanotechnological application fields

The anatomy of human teeth reflects its usage. Spatially resolved X-ray scattering permits quantitative studies of the characteristic arrangement of the anisotropic calcium phosphate crystallites and the collagen fibers within the hard tissues of the crown. The present study summarizes the distinctive nanometer-sized anatomical features of the tooth hard tissues including their interface taking advantage of spatially resolved synchrotron radiation-based small-angle X-ray scattering. The comparison of slices from eight teeth indicates a long-range organization of tooth nanostructures.

Spatially resolved small-angle x-ray scattering based on synchrotron radiation combines the quantitative assessment of nanometer-sized components using scattering with the real-space imaging by means of scanning. The method enables us to study the effect of caries-induced damages on the inorganic and organic nanoscopic components in human teeth. We demonstrate for several 200- to 500-μm-thin tooth slices that the bacterial processes dissolve the ceramic components in enamel and dentin, but the dentinal collagen network remains practically unaffected with respect to its abundance and orientation in early stages of caries and in parts of extended carious lesions. Consequently, we speculate that future caries treatments can be developed reversing the effect of bacterial attacks by means of suitable remineralization of the dentin. From the Clinical Editor In this groundbreaking study of caries pathology using synchrotron-based X-ray scattering, the authors demonstrated that while bacterial processes do dissolve the ceramic components in enamel and dentin; however, the dentinal collagen network remains unaffected, enabling the development of future caries treatments that re-mineralize the dentin.

Recently a novel grating based x-ray imaging approach called directional x-ray dark-field imaging was introduced. Directional x-ray dark-field imaging yields information about the local texture of structures smaller than the pixel size of the imaging system. In this work we extend the theoretical description and data processing schemes for directional dark-field imaging to strongly scattering systems, which could not be described previously. We develop a simple scattering model to account for these recent observations and subsequently demonstrate the model using experimental data. The experimental data includes directional dark-field images of polypropylene fibers and a human tooth slice.

Sphincters to guarantee continence are in principal the simplest muscles, because only two states (closed and open) seem to be important. The healthy urinary sphincter, however, provides dynamic components. During the filling phase the increase in tonus prevents urinary loss. The sphincter rapidly responds to pressure pulses caused, for example, by coughing. Contemporary artificial sphincters, however, merely generate two states and often induce atrophy and erosion. Hence the success of commercially available, continually improved implants is still limited. This communication reviews two physical principles, shape memory alloys and electrically activated polymer nanostructures, for applications in artificial sphincters which adapt the pressure acting on the urethra and react to stress situations such as coughing. The application of these principles allows intermittent reduction of pressure on the urethra, thus involving significantly less atrophy. The fabrication of reliably working nanostructures, however, is ambitious and will need time-consuming, high-level engineering.

Human teeth are anisotropic composites. Dentin as the core material of the tooth consists of nanometer-sized calcium phosphate crystallites embedded in collagen fiber networks. It shows its anisotropy on the micrometer scale by its well-oriented microtubules. The detailed three-dimensional nanostructure of the hard tissues namely dentin and enamel, however, is not understood, although numerous studies on the anisotropic mechanical properties have been performed and evaluated to explain the tooth function including the enamel-dentin junction acting as effective crack barrier. Small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) with a spatial resolution in the 10 μm range allows determining the size and orientation of the constituents on the nanometer scale with reasonable precision. So far, only some dental materials, i.e. the fiber reinforced posts exhibit anisotropic properties related to the micrometer-size glass fibers. Dental fillings, composed of nanostructures oriented similar to the natural hard tissues of teeth, however, do not exist at all. The current X-ray-based investigations of extracted human teeth provide evidence for oriented micro- and nanostructures in dentin and enamel. These fundamental quantitative findings result in profound knowledge to develop biologically inspired dental fillings with superior resistance to thermal and mechanical shocks.

Cancer belongs to the primary diseases these days. Although different successful treatments including surgery, chemical, pharmacological, and radiation therapies are established, the aggressive proliferation of cancerous cells and the related formation of blood vessels has to be better understood to develop more powerful strategies against the different kinds of cancer. Angiogenesis is one of the crucial steps for the survival and metastasis formation of malignant tumors. Although therapeutic strategies attempting to inhibit these processes are being developed, the biological regulation is still unclear. This study concentrates on the three-dimensional morphology of vessels formed in a mouse tumor xenograft model post mortem. Synchrotron radiation-based micro computed tomography (SRμCT) could provide the necessary information that is essential for validating the simulations. Using mouse and human brain tissue, the different approaches to extract the vessel tree from SRμCT data are discussed. These approaches include corrosion casting, the application of contrast agents such as barium sulfate, tissue embedding, all of them regarded as materials science based. Alternatively, phase contrast tomography was used, which gave rise to promising results but still not reaches the spatial resolution to uncover the smallest capillaries.