Date of Award

August 2026

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Geology

First Advisor

Kristyn Voegele

Abstract

X-Ray Reconstruction of Moving Morphology (XROMM) is widely used to understand the kinematics of living organisms. The first of two standard methods for utlizing XROMM is to surgically implant X-ray dense markers within the bones of interest and euthanize the subject at the conclusion of testing, referred altogether as marker-based. The other standard, known Scientific Rotoscoping, or markerless, involves using thorough videography of the subject and manual bone orientation within the data collection program. These standards both pose unique issues, such as post-surgery complications for marker-based and time constraints for markerless. We investigate an intermediate method for utilizing XROMM involving attaching X-ray detectable markers to the epidermis of the subject opposed to the bones, while maintaining accuracy akin to the standards and avoiding euthanasia when performed on live subjects. A validation experiment was conducted using both the marker-based method and this intermediate method. Manual hind limb movement of a chicken cadaver was performed and standard procedures of XROMM were followed. XMALab was used to isolate and track these external and internal markers separately across several strides of movement. CT-scan data were used to segment the femora, pelvis, and tibiotarsi as a 3D model (.OBJ) using the program, Slicer. These files, which include bone shapes and marker locations, were uploaded into Maya (Autodesk 2026) to create animations. With these animations, direct comparison of the mean residual error of bones was calculated between the two methods to test the accuracy of the intermediate method. This resulted in a translation error range of 0.7-2.2 cm and a rotational error range of 4.7-5.7° among the tibiotarsus and pelvis respectively for each, which falls within acceptable values. Manual manipulation further reduced this error.

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