Annu Int Conf IEEE Eng Med Biol Soc. 2021 Nov;2021:3721-3724. doi: 10.1109/EMBC46164.2021.9630397.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging compatible Elastic Loading Mechanism (MELM): A minimal footprint device for MR imaging under load.

Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society. IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society. Annual International Conference

Jaap Boon, Telly Ploem, Cole S Simpson, Ingo Hermann, Mehmet Akcakaya, Edwin H Oei, Amir A Zadpoor, Nazli Tumer, Tom M Piscaer, Joao Tourais, Sebastian Weingartner

PMID: 34892045 DOI: 10.1109/EMBC46164.2021.9630397

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 $T_2^{\ast}$ 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.

MeSH terms

• Humans
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging*
• Reproducibility of Results

Publication Types

• Journal Article