Development of a compact MRI system for trabecular bone microstructure measurements of the distal radius.

A compact MRI system for trabecular bone (TB) microstructure measurements of the distal radius was developed using a 1.0 T permanent magnet and a compact MRI console. TB microstructure of the distal radius was clearly visualized using a three-dimensional (3D) driven equilibrium spin-echo (DESE) sequence in 23 min. The image obtained had a sufficient spatial resolution (150 microm x 150 microm x 500 microm) and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) (approximately 10) for 3D bone microstructure analysis. The system demonstrated the feasibility of using a permanent magnet compact MRI system as a clinical instrument for bone microstructure measurements of the distal radius.