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Updated: May 20, 2026
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A Random-displacement Measurement by Combining a Magnetic Scale and Two Fiber Bragg Gratings
Published on: September 30, 2019
A novel MRI compatible soft tissue indentor and fibre Bragg grating force sensor
Kevin M Moerman1, Andre M J Sprengers, Aart J Nederveen
1Trinity Centre for Bioengineering, School of Engineering, Parsons Building, Trinity College, Dublin 2, Ireland. k.m.moerman@amc.uva.nl
Medical Engineering & Physics
|July 24, 2012
Summary
This study introduces a novel MRI-compatible system for measuring soft tissue mechanics. The developed indentor and force sensor enable precise, non-invasive mechanical property analysis within the MRI environment.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Medical Imaging
- Materials Science
Background:
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is crucial for non-invasive soft tissue mechanical properties investigation.
- Mechanical excitation and boundary condition measurement within MRI are technically challenging.
- Existing methods require MRI-compatible actuators and sensors for accurate load application and deformation measurement.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate a novel MRI-compatible system for soft tissue mechanical characterization.
- To integrate a computer-controlled indentor with an optical Fibre Bragg Grating (FBG) force sensor.
- To assess the system's performance, repeatability, and MRI compatibility.
Main Methods:
- A novel MRI-compatible computer-controlled soft tissue indentor was designed and built using non-ferromagnetic materials.
- An optical Fibre Bragg Grating (FBG) force sensor was calibrated for forces up to 15N with high acquisition rates (100Hz).
- Indentation tests were performed on a silicone gel phantom and a human volunteer's upper arm to evaluate the system.
Main Results:
- The FBG force sensor demonstrated a maximum error of 0.043N.
- The computer-controlled indentor achieved highly repeatable tissue deformation.
- No MRI artifacts or significant temporal Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) reductions were observed, confirming MRI compatibility.
Conclusions:
- The developed system is MRI-compatible and suitable for non-invasive soft tissue mechanical analysis.
- The integrated indentor and force sensor provide accurate and repeatable measurements.
- This technology has broad applications, particularly for analyzing skeletal muscle tissue mechanics.
