Magnetic Resonance Imaging compatible Elastic Loading Mechanism (MELM)

A minimal footprint device for MR imaging under load

Conference paper (2021)

Authors

J.C. Boon Student
T.W. Ploem ImPhys/Medical Imaging - AS
Cole S. Simpson Stanford University
I. Hermann University of Heidelberg, ImPhys/Computational Imaging - AS , ImPhys/Medical Imaging - AS
Mehmet Akcakaya University of Minnesota
A.A. Zadpoor Biomaterials & Tissue Biomechanics - Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering
N. Tümer Biomaterials & Tissue Biomechanics - Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering
Joao Tourais ImPhys/Medical Imaging - AS
S.D. Weingärtner ImPhys/Medical Imaging - AS , ImPhys/Computational Imaging - AS
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Research Group
ImPhys/Computational Imaging (AS) (TU Delft)
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Published Date

2021

Language

English

Reuse Rights

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Faculty

Applied Sciences

Department

ImPhys/Imaging Physics

Research Group

ImPhys/Computational Imaging

Abstract

Quantitative Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) can enable early diagnosis of knee cartilage damage if imaging is performed during the application of load. Mechanical loading via ropes, pulleys and suspended weights can be obstructive and require adaptations to the patient table. In this paper, a new lightweight MRI-compatible elastic loading mechanism is introduced. The new device showed sufficient linearity (|α/β| = 0.42 ± 0.25), reproducibility (CoV = 5 ± 2%), and stability (CoV = 0.5 ± 0.1%). In vivo and ex vivo scans confirmed the ability of the device to exert sufficient force to study the knee cartilage under loading conditions, inducing up to a 29% decrease in T2 of the central medial cartilage. With this device mechanical loading can become more accessible for researchers and clinicians, thus facilitating the translational use of MRI biomarkers for the detection of cartilage deterioration.