Axially- and torsionally-polarized radially converging shear wave MRE in an anisotropic phantom made via Embedded Direct Ink Writing. (July 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Guidetti, Martina; Zampini, Marco Andrea; Jiang, Yizhou; Gambacorta, Chiara; Smejkal, Joshua P.; Crutison, Joseph; Pan, Yayue; Klatt, Dieter; Royston, Thomas J.
• Is Part Of: Journal of the mechanical behavior of biomedical materials. Volume 119(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-07
• Subjects: Magnetic Resonance Elastography -- Complex shear moduli -- Tabletop MRI -- Phantom design -- Additive manufacturing -- Embedded Direct Ink Writing; Biomedical materials -- Periodicals; Biomedical materials -- Mechanical properties -- Periodicals; Biomedical materials; Biomedical materials -- Mechanical properties; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 610.28
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jmbbm.2021.104483
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1751-6161

Abstract

Abstract: Magnetic Resonance Elastography (MRE) is a non-invasive imaging method to quantitatively map the shear viscoelastic properties of soft tissues. In this study, Embedded Direct Ink Writing is used to fabricate a muscle mimicking anisotropic phantom that may serve as a standard for imaging studies of anisotropic materials. The technique allowed us to obtain a long shelf life silicone-based phantom expressing transverse isotropic mechanical properties. Another goal of the present investigation is to introduce a torsionally-polarized, radially-converging shear wave actuation method for MRE. The implemented design for this novel setup was first validated via its application to isotropic and homogeneous gelatin phantoms. Then, a comparison of the resulting complex wave images from axially- and torsionally-polarized MRE on the developed anisotropic phantom and on a skeletal muscle murine sample is presented, highlighting the value of using multiple actuation and motion encoding polarization directions when studying anisotropic materials. Graphical abstract: