An open-access lumbosacral spine MRI dataset with enhanced spinal nerve root structure resolution

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Medical Imaging
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Spinal cord injury (SCI) severely impacts motor function.
• Neuromodulation, like epidural electrical stimulation (EES), shows promise for SCI rehabilitation.
• Precise spinal cord anatomical models are crucial for effective neuromodulation, but high-resolution imaging datasets are lacking.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce a novel, open-access lumbosacral spine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) dataset.
• To enhance nerve root visualization for improved anatomical modeling.
• To facilitate research in spinal cord neuromodulation and neurorehabilitation.

Main Methods:

• Acquired high-resolution lumbosacral spine MRI scans from 14 healthy adults.
• Utilized CISS, DESS, and T2-TSE sequences for enhanced nerve root detail.
• Included anatomical annotations and reconstructed 3D spinal cord models.
• Assessed image quality using MRIQC metrics.

Main Results:

• Developed an open-access MRI dataset with superior nerve root resolution.
• Provided corresponding anatomical annotations and 3D spinal cord models.
• Validated dataset quality through rigorous image quality control.

Conclusions:

• The new dataset addresses the critical need for high-quality spinal imaging in neuromodulation research.
• This resource will accelerate the development and clinical translation of EES therapies for SCI.
• It fosters collaboration among researchers in neurorehabilitation engineering.