Towards Optical Coherence Tomography-based elastographic evaluation of human cartilage

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Medical Imaging
• Orthopedics

Background:

• Differentiating cartilage degeneration is diagnostically challenging for standard imaging methods.
• Assessing cartilage functional properties requires advanced imaging and mechanical evaluation techniques.
• Existing modalities lack the resolution and compatibility for in-situ mechanical testing with advanced imaging.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate an Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)-compatible indentation device.
• To assess the functional properties and loading response of human cartilage using the developed device.
• To evaluate the potential of OCT and MRI for qualitative assessment of cartilage degeneration.

Main Methods:

• Designed and validated an OCT- and MRI-compatible indentation device for cartilage assessment.
• Indented macroscopically intact human cartilage samples (n=5) with simultaneous OCT imaging.
• Evaluated morphological and signal changes using OCT and MRI (T2 weighted gradient echo sequences) under controlled indentation.

Main Results:

• The device successfully enabled simultaneous OCT imaging and indentation of cartilage samples.
• Qualitative OCT and MRI assessments revealed distinct or absent sample-specific morphological changes related to indentation loading.
• T2 signal characteristics in MRI indicated water presence and tissue pressurization within the sample during loading.

Conclusions:

• The developed indentation device is validated for qualitative assessment of human cartilage response to loading via OCT and MRI.
• This system provides a foundation for future quantitative analyses of loading-induced deformations and local tissue properties.
• The approach may aid in investigating the relationship between mechanical loading and cartilage degeneration.