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Tomo X Large Field

X-ray tomography allows to obtain non-destructive 3D images of the studied sample, which gives access to information about its internal structure, its composition and even its mechanical properties.

A wide variety of samples can be imaged: porous and composite materials, natural materials (rocks, plants) and biological materials (bones for example), etc.

This equipment was acquired in 2018 as part of the I-MATECBIO project by the Fermat Federation

Its principle is based on the analysis of the attenuation of an X-ray beam by the sample studied. First, the latter is x-rayed under different angular positions (typically a good thousand). Then, all of the radiographs obtained are processed mathematically and a 3D image of the sample is reconstructed.

X-ray microtomography therefore allows access to the heart of the matter in order to appreciate the variations in radiological absorption and the differences in composition. It allows to obtain non-destructive 3D images which gives access to information on the internal structure (and thus its possible defects), its composition and even its mechanical properties.A wide range of samples can be imaged: porous and composite materials, natural materials (rocks, plants) and biological materials (bones for example).

The EasyTom XL equipment benefits from the most recent advances in the field of X-ray tomography in recent years, particularly in terms of acquisition speed and 3D image reconstruction speed. The key components of the tomograph (X-ray source, sample positioning bench and detector) are positioned in a large shielded cabin. This particularity of the device allows the imaging of large samples and potentially instrumented in situ. Ainsi dans le cadre d’une étude sur la relation contrainte-perméabilité d’échantillons poreux déformables, de type os « synthétiques », un dispositif expérimental a été conçu pour approcher la réponse mécanobiologique des tissus.

Les retombées sont nombreuses dans le domaine de la santé, vieillissement articulaire et cérébral,défauts de croissance, stratégies thérapeutiques en oncologie. Cet instrument ouvre également le champ des investigations vers le comportement des biofilms et de matériaux poreux d’origine naturelle et sur la dégradation enzymatique de fibres végétales dans le cadre de projets en cours.

Scientific manager of the device: Paul Duru 

Technical Manager: Frédéric Bergame