GE demonstrates MRI method to assess articular cartilage integrity
GE Healthcare is highlighting a non-invasive magnetic resonance (MR) imaging method to assess articular cartilage integrity this week at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons in San Diego, Calif. The method is available through the company’s CartiGram, an optional application available on the GE Signa. The application enables clinicians to non-invasively visualize collagen fiber degradation.
When collagen breaks down, due to osteoarthritis for example, there is increased mobility of water in the cartilage and therefore a prolongation in T2 relaxation times. CartiGram is designed to automatically generate color-maps based on a scale of T2 values. The color-map is a tool that allows physicians to see changes in the composition of articular cartilage in some cases before changes in the thickness can be seen, the company said.
CartiGram is generally used to detect changes in cartilage composition at earlier stages. By non-invasively monitoring the progression of changes in cartilage composition doctors can optimize the timing of surgical procedures and the response to surgical intervention, GE said.
When collagen breaks down, due to osteoarthritis for example, there is increased mobility of water in the cartilage and therefore a prolongation in T2 relaxation times. CartiGram is designed to automatically generate color-maps based on a scale of T2 values. The color-map is a tool that allows physicians to see changes in the composition of articular cartilage in some cases before changes in the thickness can be seen, the company said.
CartiGram is generally used to detect changes in cartilage composition at earlier stages. By non-invasively monitoring the progression of changes in cartilage composition doctors can optimize the timing of surgical procedures and the response to surgical intervention, GE said.