Medical Engineering Laboratory, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Osaka Sangyo University, Daito Osaka 574-8530, Japan.
Shiley Center for Orthopaedic Research and Education at Scripps Clinic, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.
Biosensors (Basel). 2021 Feb 17;11(2):52. doi: 10.3390/bios11020052.
In this study, we combined quantitative ultrashort echo time (UTE) magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and an investigation by a probing device with tri-axial force sensor to seek correlations with mechanical properties of human patellar cartilage for in situ evaluation of biomechanical properties. Cartilage blocks (15 × 20 × 5 mm) were dissected from the patella of six donors; 5 mm square regions of interest from the cartilage blocks were imaged using UTE-MR imaging sequences (T2* and magnetization transfer ratio (MTR)), and mechanical properties were measured using a micro indentation device. Then, the vertical reaction force on the cartilage surface was measured while push-probing forward 3 mm with the probing device at a 30° tilt to the horizontal plane. The results showed a positive correlation between stiffness/elastic modulus and each predictor variable (UTE-T2* (r = 0.240 and 0.255, respectively, UTE-MTR (r = 0.378 and 0.379, respectively), and probing device force (r = 0.426 and 0.423, respectively). Furthermore, multiple linear regression analysis showed the combination of the three predictors had stronger correlation (adjusted r = 0.314 (stiffness), 0.323 (elastic), respectively). Our results demonstrate the potential for these non- and less- invasive methods for in situ evaluation of the mechanical properties of cartilage tissue.
在这项研究中，我们结合定量超短回波时间（UTE）磁共振（MR）成像和具有三轴力传感器的探测设备的研究，以寻求与人类髌软骨机械性能的相关性，从而对生物力学性能进行原位评估。从 6 名供体的髌上切除软骨块（15×20×5mm）；使用 UTE-MR 成像序列（T2和磁化传递比（MTR））对软骨块的 5mm 方形感兴趣区域进行成像，并使用微压痕设备测量机械性能。然后，在以 30°角倾斜于水平面的探测设备上向前推进 3mm 的同时，测量软骨表面的垂直反作用力。结果表明，刚度/弹性模量与每个预测变量之间呈正相关（UTE-T2（r = 0.240 和 0.255），UTE-MTR（r = 0.378 和 0.379），以及探测设备力（r = 0.426 和 0.423）。此外，多元线性回归分析表明，三个预测变量的组合具有更强的相关性（调整后的 r = 0.314（刚度），0.323（弹性））。我们的研究结果表明，这些非侵入性和低侵入性方法具有原位评估软骨组织机械性能的潜力。
