A noncontact, nondestructive method for quantifying intratissue deformations and strains

J Biomech Eng. 2002 Apr;124(2):253-8. doi: 10.1115/1.1449917.

Abstract

The function of soft connective tissues is frequently characterized by quantifying tissue strain (e.g., during joint motion). Conventional techniques for quantifying tendon and ligament strain typically provide surface measures, using markers, stain lines or instrumentation that may influence the tissue. An alternative approach is to quantify intratendinous strain by applying texture correlation analysis to magnetic resonance (MR) images. This paper reports the accuracy and reproducibility of this approach by (1) assessing the reproducibility of MR images, (2) assessing texture correlation accuracy using simulated displacements, and (3) comparing texture correlation measures of displacement and strain from MR images to conventional techniques.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Technical Report
  • Validation Study

MeSH terms

  • Cadaver
  • Elasticity
  • Humans
  • Image Enhancement / methods*
  • Ligaments, Articular / physiology*
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging / methods*
  • Pattern Recognition, Automated
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Shoulder Joint / physiology*
  • Statistics as Topic
  • Stress, Mechanical
  • Tendons / physiology*