This technology employs a spin-lock MRI method to isolate chemical exchange–specific relaxation, providing a linear, quantitative measure of proteoglycan content within tissues. Paired spin-lock scans at symmetric frequency offsets—with positive and negative values—and the use of inversion pulses enable the cancellation of steady-state contributions as well as relaxation effects from T1, T2, and collagen. Various RF pulse schemes, including inversion-compensated and adiabatic methods, facilitate flexible implementation while adhering to clinical MRI safety guidelines.
Description
The method is differentiated by its ability to specifically detect chemical exchange effects, unlike conventional techniques that suffer from interference caused by other relaxation mechanisms. Its linearity in mapping proteoglycan concentration allows for more accurate tissue assessments, particularly in conditions such as osteoarthritis and intervertebral disc degeneration. Furthermore, its robustness against T1 and T2 variations and shorter saturation pulses enhance both its clinical applicability and patient comfort. This level of specificity and reproducibility, combined with simplified analysis free from magnetic transfer asymmetry issues, sets it apart as a reliable tool for quantitatively evaluating tissue integrity in connective tissues.
Applications
Osteoarthritis diagnostics
Intervertebral disc assessment
Cartilage proteoglycan quantification
Connective tissue evaluation
Cell viability monitoring
Advantages
High specificity by isolating chemical exchange effects related to proteoglycan content, reducing interference from T1, T2, and collagen relaxation.
Linear quantification of proteoglycan content, enabling direct and accurate tissue evaluation.
Robustness against variations in relaxation parameters and saturation pulse durations, ensuring consistent measurements.
Enhanced clinical applicability by operating within MRI safety guidelines without requiring contrast agents or specialized hardware.
Improved imaging contrast and simplified data analysis, which facilitates better diagnosis and monitoring of connective tissue disorders.
IP Status
https://patents.google.com/patent/US11071470B2
