Research and News
Research Highlights
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Posted on January 09, 2020Research Highlight : Wide field imaging energy dispersive X-ray absorption spectroscopy
Based on spectral K-edge subtraction imaging (developed at CLS-BMIT), a new energy dispersive X-ray absorption spectroscopy method is developed at BMIT-BM beamline for simultaneous wide-field imaging and transmission X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy (XAS). Sufficient energy and spatial resolution are demonstrated for both full field imaging and computed tomography in quantifying selenium chemical species.
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Posted on October 07, 2019Research Highlight : 3D Imaging of Hydrogen Induced Cracking in Pipeline Steel
Environmental conditions of service affect the resistance of pipeline steels to failure, as a result, the applied stress which would be otherwise considered safe can be responsible for fracture due to hydrogen induced cracking (HIC). Synchrotron 3D computed tomography (CT) at BMIT-ID beamline at Canadian Light Source was used to explain the features of the HIC cracks formation during tensile tests.
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Posted on October 07, 2019Research Highlight : Visualization of 3D Bioprinted Tissue Scaffolds Using Synchrotron-Based Phase Contrast Imaging
We developed the synchrotron-based x-ray inline phase contrast imaging-computed tomography (SR-inline-PCI-CT) at the Biomedical Imaging and Therapy (BMIT) Facility of Canadian Light Source to visualize the printed hydrogel-based scaffolds.
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Posted on September 12, 2019Research Highlight : Optimizing Middle-Ear Prostheses
The middle ear efficiently transmits vibrations of the eardrum caused by sound entering the ear canal to fluid in the cochlea, the end organ of hearing Pathologies of the middle ear bones, the malleus, incus and stapes, can disrupt the transmission of sound energy and lead to so called conductive hearing loss.
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Posted on August 20, 2019Research Highlight : Synchrotron X-ray Micro-CT of a 60 million years old salamander
A 60 million-year-old salamander fossil was imaged (inside rock) at BMIT ID beamline at 80keV X-ray energy.
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Posted on July 02, 2019Research Highlight : Helping People to Hear
Using advanced techniques at the Canadian Light Source (CLS) at the University of Saskatchewan, scientists have created three-dimensional images of the complex interior anatomy of the human ear, information that is key to improving the design and placement of cochlear implants.
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Posted on April 22, 2019Research Highlight : Investigation of growth at sutural sites in the presence of an external oscillatory mechanical stimulus using a swine model
Cranial sutures are the soft connective tissue that join skull bones. It is understood that a heightened stress/strain state at the suture site induces a biological response through growth and remodeling. Investigators Owen Addison and Dan Romanyk are currently working to develop a fundamental understanding of how cranial sutures respond to an increased stress/strain state.
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Posted on April 22, 2019Research Highlight : Transient, spatially resolved desaturation of gas diffusion layers measured via synchrotron visualization
The transient 3-D visualization of the desaturation process of flooded gas diffusion layers (GDLs) is presented for the first time.
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Posted on April 22, 2019Research Highlight : Three‐Dimensional Orientation of Vascular Canals and Cross‐Sectional Geometry of Cortical Bone in Birds and Bats
In this study researchers examined the vascular canal network in the humerus and femur of a sample of 31 bird and 24 bat species using synchrotron micro‐computed tomography (micro‐CT) to look for a connection between canal orientation and functional loading.
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Posted on August 20, 2018Research Highlight : Imaging the inner ear
Imaging the inner ear promises to be new gold standard for hearing researchers Sensorineural hearing loss, which is caused by damage to sensory cells and nerve fibers in the cochlea, is incredibly prevalent, verging on what Iyer terms an epidemic. About 466 million people, including 34 million children, around the world suffer from it, and there is no cure. At the CLS, Iyer and her colleagues are showing that synchrotron light produces the kind of high-quality images needed to distinguish between healthy and damaged sensory cells and nerve fibers without having to remove the cochlea from the temporal bone. Their results were published in the August edition of the journal Biomedical Optics Express.
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Posted on July 26, 2018Research Highlight : Engineering 3D bio-printed scaffolds
Engineering 3D bio-printed scaffolds to help regenerate damaged peripheral nervous systems In the last decade or so, 3D printing has experienced a surge in popularity as the technology has become more precise and accessible. Now, researchers from the University of Saskatchewan are looking at how we can use 3D printing to help damaged nervous systems to regrow.
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Posted on June 07, 2018Research Highlight : K-edge Subtraction Imaging of Barium and Strontium in Bone
University of Saskatchewan researchers investigated skeletal uptake of barium and strontium, as tracers of bone turnover, in two different age groups, growing and skeletally mature, in healthy rats.
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Posted on February 07, 2018Research Highlight : Bubbles in Noodle Dough
A first look at how miniscule bubbles affect the texture of noodles The texture of a noodle is a remarkably complicated thing. When you bite into a spoonful of ramen noodles, you expect a bit of springiness (or a resistance to your bite) on the outside and a pleasantly soft give on the interior. These variations are so tiny as to be often overlooked, but they matter to noodle quality. A cross-disciplinary U of M team came together to examine these phenomena, harnessing the Canadian Light Source’s ability to quickly acquire detailed 3D images of solid and soft materials at the micron scale. Scanlon and Koksel provided expertise in how food processing affects the properties of various foods, as well as experience using the CLS facility. Physics professor John Page and post-doctoral fellow Reine-Marie Guillermic lent their expertise in ultrasonics, an acoustic technique used to evaluate dough properties, and their expertise in modelling the influence of bubbles on the ultrasonic signals. The team members took their dough to the BMIT beamline at the CLS, where they knew they would be able to get fast images with enough details to identify the bubbles as they evolved in the dough.
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Posted on January 02, 2018Research Highlight : Imaging the Middle Ear
Bright light allows researchers to see bone as well as tissue Getting good images of the middle ear and all its parts is tricky. But it’s needed for scientists who want to do things like repair damage or make devices to help aging middle ears function better. According to the Canadian Health Measures Survey, about 20 per cent of adults aged 19 to 79 years have at least mild hearing loss in at one or both ears, while close to 47 per cent of adults aged 60 to 79 years have some level of hearing loss. Damage to the middle ear is a common contributor to hearing loss. “The CLS let us successfully image both the bone and soft tissue,” he said. Now, work can start on designing and building better implants and prostheses to help with hearing problems related to the middle ear.
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Posted on October 05, 2017Research Highlight : Advancing CF Research
Cystic fibrosis scientists discover abnormal response to lung infections Juan Ianowski, associate professor in the Department of Physiology at the University of Saskatchewan, and a team of 18 researchers have concluded that the genetic mutation that causes cystic fibrosis prevents normal secretion of airway surface liquid including mucus. Using a new imaging technique they developed at the Canadian Light Source, they determined that the production of airway surface liquid in response to bacteria is abnormal, and might lead to a cascade of infection and inflammation in lungs as the incurable disease progresses.
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Posted on September 13, 2017Research Highlight : Regenerating Heart Muscle
Scientist combines medicine and engineering to repair a damaged heart Regenerating heart muscle tissue using a 3D printer – once the stuff of Star Trek science fiction – now appears to be firmly in the realm of the possible. U of S researcher Mohammad Izadifar says he is combining medicine and engineering to develop ways to repair a damaged heart. “The problem is the heart cannot repair itself once it is damaged due to a heart attack.” he explained. Izadifar has conducted his research out of three places on campus – the College of Engineering, the CLS and the College of Medicine where he has been certified in doing open heart surgery on rats, having trained in all the ethical protocols related to these research animals. And thanks to the confirmation photo images he has from his collaboration with the CLS, Izadifar has already proven the 3D printed human cells, which he has dubbed the “heart patch,” can start to grow as intended in theory.
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Posted on April 14, 2016Research Highlight : Studying model suspensions using high resolution synchrotron X-ray CT
OIl and Water Researchers from the University of Sheffield used synchrotron X-ray CT to examine the fate of a water droplet in a suspension of sucrose and oil.
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Posted on March 31, 2016Research Highlight : Non-destructive investigation of soft tissue preservation in amber
Preserved in Amber The plot of movies, soft tissue can be preserved in amber for many years. Palaeontologists from the Royal Saskatchewan Museum are investigating soft tissue preservation of insects trapped within amber. The team has examined beetles, ants and wasps that range from 17 to 98 million years old in age.
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Posted on February 18, 2016Research Highlight : Improving Cochlear Implant Surgery
For a better sounding world A collaboration between Western University and the CLS to construct a high definition atlas of intracochlear anatomy using in-line phase contrast micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) imaging. The atlas will be used as a guide to design safer electrodes, to guide surgical insertion, and to optimize hearing outcomes.
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Posted on November 30, 2015Research Highlight : Energy Dispersive Biomedical Imaging System
One beam with two K-edges! Development has been done a multi-enegy X-ray imaging system using a novel bent Laue crstal system. The focused beam hits the sample and then spreads out before reaching the detector. This results in an image where the horizontal relates to energy.
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Posted on September 08, 2015Research Highlight : Growth and hunting behaviour of hatchling Tyrannosaurus rex
Life of a baby dinosaur revealed Imaging of bones from young T.rex reveals insights into the lives of a hatchling (less than one year old) and a 3-4 year old T. rex the size of an adult human. The hatching was growing as fast as a baby bird and both were hunting prey showing the vigorous activity of youth.
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Posted on July 29, 2015Research Highlight : In-line Phase-Contrast Microcomputed Tomography
New Application for In vivo Imaging of Cortical Bone Remodeling of the Rat Forelimb In-line phase contrast was used to image cortical bone. Reducing the dose permits longitudinal imaging of live animals which provides direct and novel in vivo evidence of BMU behavior in 3D. Further development of such methodology promises to advance our understanding of fundamental bone biology which will enhance the efficacy of drug and physiological therapies for degenerative diseases such as osteoporosis.
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Posted on June 30, 2015Research Highlight : Visualizing degradation of 3D-printed tissue-engineered constructs
Using 3D printing to help grow new cartilage We employ 3d-printed hybrid biomaterials made of polycaprolactone (PCL) for structural support and cell-impregnated alginate hydrogels for biological functionality. Imaging is done using in-line phase contrast imaging computed tomography (in-line PCI-CT).
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Posted on May 29, 2015Research Highlight : Phase Contrast Imaging (PCI) enabling agricultural innovation
An X-ray for plants! The team has developed a novel method of utilizing phase contrast imaging to identify plant structures. This is useful for studying the progression of disease, transport of minerals and water, and developmental biology.
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Posted on April 17, 2015Research Highlight : Investigating preservation of amber inclusions with x-ray µCT and soft x-rays
Frozen in time The team is investigating inclusions within amber deposits that are 17 to 100 million years old. The goal is to assess how preservation varies between deposits of different age and source tree.
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Posted on March 31, 2015Research Highlight : Phase-Based X-Ray Imaging Techniques for Cartilage Tissue Engineering Assessments in Situ
Repairing nerves and cartilage The tissue engineering team at the University of Saskatchewan is working on artificial tissue which will allow for the repair of cartilage and nerve tissue.
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Posted on January 31, 2015Research Highlight : Healthy Bees
How fungus changes bees High school students from Quebec visited BMIT to image honey bees- comparing healthy bees to those infected by a fungus which targets Canadian honey bees.
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Posted on May 31, 2014Research Highlight : Assessing the Gas Transfer between Air and Blood Using Multi-Energy High Resolution Imaging
How diseased lungs are different The Ford group likes to watch rats breathe, comparing the relationship between airways and blood vessels in rats with pulmonary diseases.
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Posted on April 30, 2014Research Highlight : Thermoregulation in the Blood-Feeding Insect Rhodnius Prolixus, the Vector of Chagas’ disease
Helping prevent the spread of disease Researchers from Saskatchewan and France are learning about how this insect pumps our hot blood through its cold body without dying. Understanding the mechanism with which the insect pumps our blood will help us combat its nefarious disease-spreading activities.
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Posted on February 28, 2014Research Highlight : Beam Expander Update
BMIT- bigger and better With much ingenuity, the available height of a BMIT image has been increased tenfold without ANY loss of flux or phase coherence. George almost died.
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Posted on January 31, 2014Research Highlight : Fangtooth- Deep Sea Fish Skeleton
Fangtooth helps in determination of oceanic pollutants A group of high school students from Montreal scanned our fanged friend to figure out whether it harbours significant levels of various pollutants, which would suggest that we humans have managed to spread our waste pretty much everywhere on earth.
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Posted on November 30, 2013Research Highlight : DEI Breath Hold Imaging Of Mouse Lungs
Helping animals breathe Software has been developed for imaging the lungs of live animals with synchrotron radiation. The software can be used to take pictures of the lungs at animals' maximum and minimum lung capacities, then to subtract the images from one another to see the difference. Seeing the difference between the maximum and minimum images while the animals are still alive allows researchers to better understand lung diseases and animals' responses to various treatments.
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Posted on October 31, 2013Research Highlight : Grating Based Talbot Interferometer Imaging
We’re working on it It should be ready for users by July 2014.
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Posted on September 30, 2013Research Highlight : Beam Expander
BMIT can image giants Using a double bent Laue beam expander, a mouse can now be imaged laterally in a single shot.
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Posted on August 31, 2013Research Highlight : One Beam With Two K-Edges!
BMIT innovation Usually, if you have squares and circles in a sample, you have no choice but to look at an image which includes both the squares and the circles (superimposed upon one another- making it difficult to see anything useful). With two K-edges, you can have two completely different images- one with only squares, and one with only circles.
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Posted on July 31, 2013Research Highlight : Soft Tissue Imaging Of the Temporomandibular Joint
Helping diagnose arthritis of the jaw Using standard hospital equipment, arthritis of the jaw can’t be detected until it’s too late... BMIT can help.
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Posted on June 30, 2013Research Highlight : Synchrotron Imaging Of the Spatial Distribution of Barium in Bone to Understand the Role of Remodeling In Bone Disease
Your body treats your bones the way a kid treats Lego Your bones are constantly being destroyed and replaced by your body. One research team is using BMIT to figure out exactly how that process of destructive creation is affected by diseases like osteoporosis.
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Posted on May 31, 2013Research Highlight : Rapid Bubble Dynamics in Soft Solids
The quest for the perfect loaf of bread Imaging techniques at BMIT are helping refine the standard industrial bread-baking quality assurance ultrasound technologies which are currently in use.
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Posted on April 30, 2013Research Highlight : Novel Method of Dual-Energy X-Ray Analysis
Innovation at BMIT Dr. Midgley has been investigating DEXA for use in the characterisation of materials, with applications in analytical x-ray science- including medical imaging, radiotherapy treatment planning, and industrial nondestructive testing.
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Posted on March 31, 2013Research Highlight : Canine and Human Prostate Synchrotron Imaging
Prostate cancer kills- but it doesn’t have to Caught early, prostate cancer is highly curable. The problem is catching it early. Using BMIT, a University of Saskatchewan research team is studying prostate cancer in dogs in an effort to apply what they learn to increasing the ability of currently available hospital technology to diagnose prostate cancer at an earlier stage.
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Posted on February 28, 2013Research Highlight : Exploring Paleopathology from the Inside Out: A Synchrotron Investigation of Dental Pathology and Trauma
Point taken: An unusual case of incisor agenesis and mandibular trauma in Early Bronze Age Siberia Synchrotron imaging was used to diagnose two unusual but unrelated conditions. The first is one of the earliest cases involving dental agenesis, the failure of two front teeth to develop. The second, the embedded projectile tip, represents an almost certain deliberate assault that occurred at or around the time of death.
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Posted on December 31, 2012Research Highlight : Phase Grating Talbot Interferometry Imaging of Nephila Clavata (Tetragnathidae)
Spider Queen While imaging at SPRING-8, staff from BMIT were inspired to develop grating based Talbot interferometry.
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Posted on November 30, 2012Research Highlight : Precision Bending of Silicon Wafers for Bent Crystal Monochromators
High quality mono beam for less Improving bent crystal monochromators and studying the utility of silicon wafers as bent crystal optic components.
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Posted on October 31, 2012Research Highlight : Tissue Engineering Research Group
Replacement body parts for all BMIT allows non-invasive monitoring of how well implanted tissue performs, and exactly where the implants are and/or are not healing.
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Posted on September 30, 2012Research Highlight : “Lighting” Up the Lungs
Development of lung imaging The goal of this work is to develop synchrotron based imaging protocols suitable for live animal imaging and for functional evaluation and measurement of gross changes in the lungs.
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Posted on August 31, 2012Research Highlight : X-Ray Coherent Scatter Imaging
Extracting information from "random" scatter X-ray scatter imaging uses the scattered radiation to augment conventional X-ray imaging.
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Posted on July 31, 2012Research Highlight : Cellular Response to Microbeam Radiation Therapy (MRT)
A precise radiation beam for cancer elimination A scientist from the University of Alberta is developing a method for using BMIT’s beam to kill cancerous tissue without harming the surrounding healthy tissue.
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Posted on June 30, 2012Research Highlight : Non-Invasive Estimation of Bone Strength
Do the pores in your bones bode ill for your future? Dr. Boyd and his team may be able to tell you.
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Posted on May 31, 2012Research Highlight : Synchrotron Imaging Of Human Ovaries ex Situ
The business of helping life come into this world is both messy and beautiful Improving soft tissue imaging, understanding ovarian cancer, and figuring the mechanisms through which infertility may occur.
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Posted on April 30, 2012Research Highlight : The Role of Staphylococcus Aureus on Mucus Secretion
How cystic fibrosis affects the mucus protecting us from pulmonary infection. Response of the airway submucosal gland to inhaled bacteria with and without cystic fibrosis.
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Posted on March 31, 2012Research Highlight : SYNC 801
A class about the application of synchrotron radiation to problems in the life sciences Covering the history of synchrotron light, interactions of light with matter, macromolecular crystallography, biomedical imaging, x-ray absorption imaging, and x-ray flurorescence imaging.
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Posted on February 29, 2012Research Highlight : In-situ 3D Investigation of Metallic Materials’ Failure Mechanisms
Measuring failure The bright x-rays of BMIT have allowed the Szpunar group to observe the failure of various materials at the micron level.
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Posted on January 31, 2012Research Highlight : 3D Mapping Of Strontium in Bone
Strontium bone-strength supplements? We don't know exactly how useful strontium supplements are, but researchers are in the process of figuring it out. They feed rats strontium, and then watch how concentrations of the element in the rats' bones change over the rats' lives using micro Computed Tomography (uCT) and K-Edge Subtraction (KES) techniques.
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Posted on January 01, 2012Research Highlight : Human Factors Design for the BMIT Biomedical Beamlines
BMIT designed for ease of use At the BMIT beamlines, human factors considerations have been incorporated wherever possible, including in the design of software and hardware, as well as ease-of-use features of beamline control stations and experiment hutches. BMIT gears operation of the beamline to our unique user community of medical personnel, in addition to basic science researchers. User feedback continues to drive usability improvements to beamline operation.
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Posted on November 30, 2011Research Highlight : High Resolution a-Selenium (a-Se) X-Ray Detectors for Digital Mammography
Towards higher resolution mammography A prototype detector was tested in the development of high resolution detectors for digital mammography.
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Posted on October 31, 2011Research Highlight : Radiation Detectors for Micro-Beam Radiation Therapy
Precision dose measurements for radiation therapy The measurement of spatially resolved high doses in micro-beam radiation therapy is a challenging task requiring the combination of high dose response and high spatial resolution.
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Posted on September 30, 2011Research Highlight : Insect Flight Muscle Phase Polymorphism
Why are some locusts so lonesome? A research group at the University of Saskatchewan is using BMIT to develop an understanding of how the exoskeletons of two different groups within the same species of locust constrain the development of their flight muscles.
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Posted on August 31, 2011Research Highlight : DEI Imaging of Growing and Inflamed Joints
Fighting early-onset arthritis The Rosenberg group is breaking new ground in the study of joint disease.
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Posted on July 31, 2011Research Highlight : Investigating Clinical Applications of Synchrotron Imaging In Veterinary Medicine
Longitudinal survival studies with large animals The Sharma group is using BMIT for comparative analysis, surgical planning, live animal imaging, and building 3D teaching models.
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Posted on June 30, 2011Research Highlight : Microfluidic and Nanofluidic Transport Phenomena
Understanding fluid flow at the micro- and nano-scale Measuring the behaviour of liquid water in a fuel cell provides new insights into the function of fuel cells and may lead to improvements in materials and design for low temperature fuel cells.
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Posted on May 31, 2011Research Highlight : Measuring the Biomechanics of Normal and Pathological Joints
High resolution imaging of joints Dr. Wilson's group is helping improve diagnoses of joint problems by conducting stress analyses in the BMIT beam.
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Posted on April 30, 2011Research Highlight : Imaging Embryonic Tooth Development in Mouse
The teeth of mice and men Studying how teeth and jaws develop in a coordinated way over time.
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Posted on March 31, 2011Research Highlight : High Resolution 3D Imaging of Cortical Bone
The dynamic microstructure of cortical bone Growth and development, functional adaptation, and deterioration with age and disease.
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Posted on January 01, 2010Research Highlight : Options for Computed Tomography X-ray Imaging on BMIT
Summary of BMIT's current CT capabilities An overview of recent CT X-ray imaging studies of human and animal specimens conducted on the BMIT bending magnet (05B1-1) beamline is presented. Imaging was done at 20 keV, using a double crystal monochromator with a (2,2,0) silicon crystal set with ΔE/E ~ 10-5.
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Posted on January 01, 2008Research Highlight : 05ID-2: Superconductive Wiggler for BMIT Program
Optimized vertical field direction wiggler A wide variety of imaging and therapy experiments planned for BMIT facility require a unique radiation source with high brilliance, critical energy and a wide beam fan. An optimized, vertical field direction wiggler was designed and fabricated to provide 4.3 Tesla with a period length of 48 mm, critical energy range > 20keV, K-value > 19, stored energy of 27 kJ, inductance of 0.2 H and a pole gap of 14.5 mm.
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Posted on January 01, 2007Research Highlight : POE-2 Gas Bremsstrahlung Studies on 05ID-2 Beamline
Getting rid of gas radiation The BioMedical Imaging and Therapy (BMIT) ID beamline will be capable ofhuman research for both imaging and therapy applications. In preparation forthose programs, a study was undertaken designed to minimize and characterizeradiation from other sources than synchrotron radiation; i.e. gas bremsstrahlung.Gas bremsstrahlung is generated by the interaction of circulating electrons withthe residual gas molecules in the ring vacuum chamber and is produced all aroundthe storage ring.
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Posted on January 01, 2007Research Highlight : BMIT "MRT Lift" - A positioning system for biomedical imaging and therapy
Bigger and better The MRT lift is capable of moving and lifting samples and patients larger than any previous synchrotron biomedical positioning system.
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Posted on January 01, 2005Research Highlight : The Proposed BioMedical Imaging & Therapy Program
A healing light for research Designed for the purpose of imaging biological tissue and conducting radiation therapy using brilliant, monochromatic x-ray light.
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Posted on January 01, 2005Research Highlight : Preliminary study and Mechanical support design of Analyzer for Diffraction Enhanced Imaging
Solving problems which plague DEI Problems with the angle of the analyzer may be solved by a stiffer mechanical design.
