UNB Physics Department Seminar - FR

Event date(s): November 21, 2024
Time(s): 01:15 PM - 02:15 PM
Category: Fredericton
Location: Fredericton

UNB Physics Department Seminar
 
When: Thursday, Nov. 21 at 1:15 p.m.
Location: Science Library, Room 107

Speaker: Will Selby

Title: Exploring novel applications of portable magnetic resonance in footcare

Abstract: Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) place a significant economic burden on the Canadian healthcare system, accounting for approximately one-third of the direct costs of diabetes and associated with a 5-year mortality rate as high as 30%. Early detection and monitoring of tissue changes that precede DFU formation are critical; however, current diagnostic techniques provide primarily qualitative, surface-level information. Accessible diagnostic tools for foot care are lacking. Magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) has proven effective for quantifying tissue elasticity but relies on large, expensive clinical MRI scanners.

Our approach employs compact, cost-effective portable MR sensors that allow for bulk characterization of material properties in regions close to the surface (within 1-2 cm). Portable MR sensors are often designed and optimized to target specific applications. The magnetic resonance signal, integrated over an approximately 2 x 2 x 0.2 cm³ sensitive region, can reveal valuable information about tissue composition through fluid content, relaxation, and diffusion. We add elasticity information by exploiting the signal’s sensitivity to motion in the presence of a constant magnetic field gradient. A velocity distribution within the sensitive region leads to phase interference, reducing the signal magnitude. We use this effect to detect the arrival of a shear wave pulse and use the travel time from the excitation point to the sensitive region to determine the shear wave speed and, consequently, the shear modulus.

To date, we have tested this technique on tissue-mimicking phantoms with varying elasticities, and these results will inform the clinical translation of the technique. The development of an affordable, compact method for characterizing tissue elasticity, alongside other NMR parameters, has the potential to significantly improve long-term healthcare outcomes for diabetic patients.

Building: Science Library

Room Number: 107