Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 18, 2026
An in vivo Rodent Model of Contraction-induced Injury and Non-invasive Monitoring of Recovery
Published on: May 11, 2011
Dynamic MR imaging of a minipig's knee using a high-density multi-channel receive array and a movement device
Sairamesh Raghuraman1, Joachim H X Schrauth, Daniel L Weber
1Research Center Magnetic Resonance Bavaria (MRB), Am Hubland, 97074, Wuerzburg, Germany. ramesh@physik.uni-wuerzburg.de
Object:
To construct an optimised, high-density receive array and a movement device to achieve dynamic imaging of the knee in orthopedic large animal models (e.g., minipigs) at 1.5 T.
Materials And Methods:
A 13-channel RF receive array was constructed, and the crucial choice of the array element size (based on considerations like region of interest, geometry of the minipig's knee, achievable signal-to-noise ratio, applicability of parallel imaging, etc.) was determined using the Q factors of loops with different sizes. A special movement device was constructed to guide and produce a reproducible motion of the minipig's knee during acquisition.
Results:
The constructed array was electrically characterised and the reproducibility of the cyclic motion was validated. Snapshots of dynamic in vivo images taken at a temporal resolution (308 ms) are presented. Some of the fine internal structures within the minipig's knee, like cruciate ligaments, are traced in the snapshots.
Conclusion:
This study is a step towards making dynamic imaging which can give additional information about joint injuries when static MRI is not able to give sufficient information, a routine clinical application. There, the combination of a high-density receive array and a movement device will be highly helpful in the diagnosis and therapy monitoring of knee injuries in the future.
