Applied physicists have developed a portable MRI system that can screen young tennis players for wrist injuries in a minivan or suchlike passenger vehicle before or after symptoms develop.
The work was carried out at the University of Tsukuba in Japan and is described in the Japanese journal Magnetic Resonance in Medical Sciences.
Professors Tomoki Miyasaka, Yasuhiko Terada and colleagues designed the device around a wrist-specific radiofrequency probe and a small generator, which they included to obviate the need for a commercial power supply.
Stationing the system outside a tennis school, the team imaged wrists of male and female players between 8 and 18 years old.
They had a radiologist grade image quality as well as perform clinical evaluations.
“In most cases, the image quality was sufficient for diagnosis, and triangular fibrocartilage complex damage could be detected,” the authors report in their study abstract. “The results indicated that the modified portable MRI system could be applied for an early diagnosis of wrist injuries.”
In a news item posted by the university, Prof. Terada says the system builds on an earlier iteration developed to diagnose elbow injuries in baseball players near the field of play. A primary aim was avoiding unnecessary trip to a hospital MRI suite.
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Whole-body MRI scanners can identify cartilage injuries; moreover, MRI scans of asymptomatic patients have shown a high rate of cartilage damage, meaning that MRI scans can identify injuries before athletes are even aware of them. When an injury is detected early, treatment can be started before the injury becomes more problematic. Unfortunately, using a whole-body MRI scanner, which is large and expensive, is not realistic for screening athletes outside of healthcare settings.”
“As future work, further devices can be developed for other joints, such as the ankle or knee,” Terada adds.
The university says other adaptations may be on the way for preventing and treating injuries among athletes in all types of sports.
Reference:
Tomoki Miyasaka, Michiru Kajiwara, Akito Kawasaki, Yoshikazu Okamoto, Yasuhiko Terada, “Development of a Car-mounted Mobile MR Imaging System for Diagnosis of Sports-related Wrist Injury.” Magnetic Resonance in Medical Sciences, April 26, 2022. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2463/mrms.tn.2021-0158
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India debuts its first-ever portable MRI scanner
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Dave P. has worked in journalism, marketing and public relations for more than 30 years, frequently concentrating on hospitals, healthcare technology and Catholic communications. He has also specialized in fundraising communications, ghostwriting for CEOs of local, national and global charities, nonprofits and foundations.