About XROMM

X-ray Reconstruction of Moving Morphology (XROMM) is a 3D imaging technology for visualizing rapid skeletal movement in vivo.

XROMM combines 3D models of bone morphology with movement data from biplanar x-ray video to create highly accurate (±0.1 mm) re-animations of the 3D bones moving in 3D space.

Rapid bone motion, such as during bird flight, frog jumping, and human running, can be visualized and quantified with XROMM.

Bone morphology data come from a 3D computer model of the bone surfaces from CT, laser scanning, or MRI. Each bone is an object that can be manipulated individually in computer animation space. These models are specific to each individual study subject (human or animal).
3D Model

Project Showcase

Pig Feeding
Picture of XROMM animation of "chew loops"
Marker-based XROMM analysis of mastication in minipigs
In this study we are using marker-based X-ray Reconstruction of Moving Morphology (XROMM) to visualize and measure lower jaw movements (relative to the skull) during mastication in miniature swine (Sinclair strain).
Fish Feeding
Picture of XROMM animation of fish feeding
Biomechanics of jaw protrusion in common carp
In this study we are using X-ray Reconstrucion of Moving Morphology (XROMM) to examine the movements of several oral jaw bones and understand the mechanics of jaw protrusion in common carp, Cyprinus carpio.
Iguana Breathing
Picture of XROMM animation of iguana breathing
Rib kinematics & intercostal muscle strain during breathing in Iguana iguana
In this study we are using X-ray Reconstruction of Moving Morphology (XROMM) to create precise and accurate animations of 3D rib motion during deep breathing in green iguanas, Iguana iguana.

News & Announcements

Upcoming Short Course

UNLV 3D XMA Dynamics Short Course
December 13-17, 2010
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Laboratory of Comparative Biomechanics
Las Vegas, Nevada, 89154, USA

Course description | Application form

XROMM: precision, accuracy and applications in comparative biomechanics research

Published June 1, 2010 in the Journal of Experimental Zoology, Part A. 313A: 262–279.
Brainerd E.L., D.B. Baier, S.M. Gatesy, T.L. Hedrick, K.A. Metzger, S.L. Gilbert, J.J. Crisco.

Scientific rotoscoping: a morphology-based method of 3-D motion analysis and visualization

Published June 1, 2010 in the Journal of Experimental Zoology, Part A. 313A: 262–279.
Gatesy S.M., D.B. Baier, F.A. Jenkins, K.P. Dial.

Funding Acknowledgements

We thank the Office of the Vice President for Research at Brown University, the RIH Orthopaedic Foundation, and the Bushnell Research and Graduate Education Fund for essential seed funding at the start of the XROMM development project. The W.M. Keck Foundation generously provided funding for the development of biplanar videoradiography hardware, and in support of our interdisciplinary collaborative development of XROMM software. The Instrument Development for Biological Sciences Program at the US National Science Foundation provided funding for the development of low-cost x-ray hardware and XROMM software for comparative biomechanics research.

Some material on this web site is based on work supported by the National Science Foundation. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.