Prototype of mini MRI for knee injuries

Besides the bones of the knee joint, there are tendons, the meniscus, and ligaments all of which are less solid than bone and present a blackness on an MRI scan.  Consequently, MRI imaging of knee injury can be inconclusive or misleading.  “The brightness of these tissues such as tendons and ligaments in MRI images strongly depends on the angle between the collagen fibres and the magnetic field of the scanner. If this angle is 55 degrees the image can be very bright, but for other angles it is usually very dark.”  Knowing this, imaging engineers at Imperial College London “explain the magic angle is achieved in their scanner because they are able to easily change the orientation of the magnetic field. While the patient sits comfortably in a chair, the specially designed magnet (which uses motors and sensors similar to those found in robots in car factories) can rotate around the leg and the orientate magnetic field in multiple directions.”  MORE

Image Credit:   Imperial College London