The technology could also be used to identify explosives in luggage, or pinpoint hairline cracks or corrosion in structures.
Traditional x-ray images show a simple absorption contrast, but dark-field images capture the scattering of the radiation within the material itself, exposing subtle inner changes in bone, soft tissue or alloys.
Dark-field x-ray imaging had required sophisticated optics and could only be produced at facilities like the Paul Scherrer Institute's 300m diameter synchrotron.
However, with the new nanostructured gratings, dark-field images could soon be produced using ordinary x-ray equipment already in place in hospitals and airports around the world.
"Researchers have been working on dark-field x-ray images for many years," said Franz Pfeiffer, a professor at the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne and researcher at the Paul Scherrer Institute.
"Up until now these images have only been possible using sophisticated crystal optical elements."
Co-researcher Christian David added: "Our new technique uses novel x-ray optical components that permit the use of a broad energy spectrum, including the standard range of energies in traditional x-ray equipment.
"This opens up the possibility for adapting current imaging equipment to include dark-field imaging."