Vibration inducing apparatus for magnetic resonance elastography

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention provide a magnetic resonance (MR) compatible transducer for magnetic resonance elastography applications having a cantilevered drive element a free end of which is arranged in use to move reciprocally, and a flexible non-conductive connection rod slidably disposed within a flexible non-conductive sleeve. The connection rod is affixed at a proximal end to the cantilevered drive element via a proximal flexible connection piece that in use accommodates the slight rotational movement of the cantilevered drive element as it reciprocates about its secured end, whilst translating the rotational reciprocation of the cantilevered drive element into a pure translational reciprocation of the connection rod within the sleeve. The distal end of the connection rod is affixed against a protrusion connected to another cantilevered driven element, upon which is mounted a piston element that in use contacts the subject. The distal end of the connection rod is provided with a distal flexible connection piece that forms the connection between the end of the connection rod and the cantilevered driven element, again to account for the pure translational movement of the rod being converted to rotational movement of the cantilevered driven element about its cantilever pivot point.

Description

technical field [0001] Embodiments of the invention relate to a vibration introducing device for introducing vibrations in a subject's anatomy during magnetic resonance based measurements. Background technique [0002] Detection of pathological tissue changes by hand palpation is a simple but necessary diagnostic tool applied by physicians since the beginning of medicine. Recently, virtual "palpation" of tissue has been made practical using a method known as MR elastography (MRE). The potential of this approach for early diagnosis, staging and subsequent treatment is enormous through many pathologies such as cancer, cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases that affect the biomechanics. Recent clinical and preclinical results in the fields of hepatic fibrosis and multiple sclerosis have demonstrated impressive initial results. MRE quantifies the in vivo biomechanical properties of tissues by analyzing the propagation of externally induced shear waves. The general idea...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

However, as discussed above and as understood by Tse et al., this arrangement ( Figure 4 shown in ) has the disadvantage that it is not flexible and does not allow vibrations to be applied to any desired part of the body

Images