X-ray simulations with gVirtualXray in medicine and life sciences

Abstract
gVirtualXray (gVXR) is a programming interface framework to simulate realistic X-ray projections in realtime on graphics processing units (GPUs). It solves the Beer-Lambert law (attenuation law) using a deterministic X-ray simulation algorithm based on 3D computer graphics, namely rasterisation. Implemented as multi-pass rendering makes it more computationally optimal than the ray-tracing technique, which is a brute-force and straightforward approach to simulate X-ray images. Although written in C++ using OpenGL and its shading language (GLSL) to leverage the GPU, gVXR is available for other programming languages such as Python. Extensive validation studies, including comparisons with Monte Carlo simulations and real experimental data, have confirmed the accuracy of gVXR's simulations. gVXR was initially used in medical virtual reality (VR) for training purposes. It was then used in medical physics, and high-throughput data applications including mathematical optimisation and machine learning (ML). Micro-imaging studies on the C. elegans biological model are also reported.
Description

CCS Concepts: Computing methodologies → Real-time simulation; Physical simulation; Virtual reality; Machine learning; Applied computing → Physics

        
@inproceedings{
10.2312:evm.20251974
, booktitle = {
EuroVis 2025 - Dirk Bartz Prize
}, editor = {
Meuschke, Monique
and
Kuhlen, Torsten W.
}, title = {{
X-ray simulations with gVirtualXray in medicine and life sciences
}}, author = {
Vidal, Franck P.
and
Afshari, Shaghayegh
and
Hatton, Clémentine
and
Henry, Audrey
and
Kelly, Graham
and
Michelet, Claire
and
Mihail, Radu P.
and
Racy, Malek
and
Rouwane, Ali
and
Seznec, Herve
and
Sújar, Aarón
and
Tugwell-Allsup, Jenna
and
Albiol, Alberto
and
Villard, Pierre-Frédéric
and
Albiol, Francisco
and
Bellot, Alberto Corbí
and
Brun, Anna Louise
and
Chou, Chengy-Ying
and
Desbarats, Pascal
and
García, Marcos
and
Giovannelli, Jean-Francois
}, year = {
2025
}, publisher = {
The Eurographics Association
}, ISBN = {
978-3-03868-281-3
}, DOI = {
10.2312/evm.20251974
} }
Citation