Magnetic Resonance Imaging Lab
When HSS surgeons require an in-depth view of a patient’s orthopedic condition, they call on the Department of Radiology and Imaging and the scientists in the MRI Research Lab. Our lab's focus is two fold: to perform novel MRI research to improve early and accurate diagnosis of orthopedic conditions and aid in surgical planning and long-term monitoring of patients. The program emphasizes a translational approach to rapidly implement prototype MRI pulse sequences for clinical use.
The MRI Research Lab comprises a multidisciplinary group of researchers, including board-certified radiologists, biomedical engineers, physicists, and veterinarians, and with expertise in MRI techniques to non-invasively assess derangements of cartilage, peripheral nerve, bone, fibrocartilage, and synovium. Our team has extensive experience in applying quantitative MRI techniques to characterize the extent of early tissue degeneration and integrity of tissue repair. The lab has also been instrumental in helping develop novel metal artifact reduction techniques to identify adverse tissue reactions following joint arthroplasty.
The Coleman Magnetic Resonance Imaging Center at HSS comprises 20 high field strength units: 14 - 1.5T systems and 6 - 3T systems. The latest 3T systems have state-of-the-art gradient performance with gradient amplitudes up to 80mT/m and slew rates of 120-200 mT/m/s.
MRI Lab Team
Current Lab Members
- Daniel Kim, Research Manager
- Sara Sacher MS, Research Engineer
- Gracyn Campbell, Research Assistant
- Jack Consolini, MS, Research Engineer
- Erin Argentieri, Coleman Scholar and Predoctoral Student at UCSF
- Sophie Queler, Coleman Scholar and Medical Student at SUNY Downstate
- Michelle Akerman, Research Assistant
- Yenpo Lin, MD, Visiting Research Fellow
Alumni
- Clare Nimura, Research Assistant (’22-‘23) – Ms Nimura subsequently attended medical school at Brown University
- Frederik Abel, Research Fellow (’22-’23) – Dr. Abel is currently a radiology resident at the University of Zurich
- Emily Pedrick, Research Assistant (’21-’22) – Ms. Pedrick subsequently attended medical school at University of California San Diego
- Jake Fiore, Research Assistant (’21-’22) – Mr Fiore subsequently attended medical school at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School
- Marianne Belanger, Research Assistant (’21-’22) – Ms Belanger subsequently attended medical school at Tufts University School of Medicine
- John Neri, Research Assistant (’19-’23) – Mr Neri subsequently attended Cooper Medical School.
- Madeline Gao, Research Assistant (‘19-20) – Ms Gao subsequently attended medical school at SUNY Downstate
- Julia Sternberg, Research Assistant (’19-’20) – Ms Sternberg subsequently attended Columbia law school
- Jacky Cheung, Research Assistant (’18-’19) – Mr. Cheung subsequently attended Stony Brook University for medical school
- Kelly Zochowski, Research Assistant (’18-’19) – Ms. Zochowski subsequently attended Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania
- Tina Jeon, PhD, Post-Doctorial Scientist (’16-’18)
Research Areas
Cartilage and Meniscus Imaging
The MRI lab applies quantitative MRI (qMRI) as a biomarker to evaluate articular cartilage degeneration using T2 and T1ρ mapping. We also use qMRI to characterize meniscal tears and healing using ultra-short echo (UTE) imaging and derived T2* maps. Current projects in this area include:
- MRI-compatible loading device to evaluate changes of cartilage T1ρ values and cartilage thickness in patients undergoing partial meniscectomy
- T2* relaxometry of the ACL in pre- and post-menopausal females
- T2* relaxometry status post anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction
- T2* mapping of the meniscus in collegiate athletes
Quantitative imaging permits visualization of musculoskeletal tissues and provides information about their biochemical composition and organization. Left to Right: 3D meniscal T2* map, T2* map of the lateral meniscus, cartilage thickness and, T2* of the lateral femoral condyle and the lateral tibial plateau.
Imaging tissues around orthopedic hardware
Performing MRI near metal is challenging due to the presence of susceptibility artifacts that cause image distortion and signal loss. The MRI lab has helped develop and continues to optimize the multi-acquisition variable resonance image combination (MAVRIC) pulse sequence to assess bone-implant integration and biologic reactions in joint arthroplasty and other orthopedic hardware.
Research areas include:
- Longitudinal assessment of total hip arthroplasty (THA) integration using MAVRIC-based morphologic and quantitative MRI techniques
- Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) to map microstructural changes and evaluate synovial reactions following THA
- Evaluating MAVRIC-based T2 mapping of infrapatellar fat-pad in patients with total knee arthroplasty (TKA)
T2 mapping of the infrapatellar fat pad (IPFP) in patients with total knee arthroplasty displays shortening of T2 that is associated with an increase of IPFP scarring.
Advanced 3D multispectral imaging techniques permit visualization of soft tissues near total hip replacements. Left to Right: Image displays loosening of the femoral stem (bright lines around stem), metallic debris from implant wear (arrows), synovial response due to polymeric (plastic) wear debris from the implant (arrow), and an adverse local tissue reaction (arrows)
Bone MRI with Zero Echo Time (ZTE)
Unlike conventional MRI acquisitions, ZTE MRI facilitates visualization of bone with tissue contrast similar to computed tomography (CT). The MRI lab is investigating ZTE applications for a wide range of orthopedic conditions.
Research areas include:
- ZTE-based in silico collision modelling of hip morphology and range-of-motion in femoroacetabular impingement (FAI)
- ZTE-based bone modelling for 3D morphologic assessment and 3D-printed surgical guides
- Clinical applications of ZTE imaging in trauma and surgical planning
Median Nerve Entrapment at Medial Epicondylar Fracture Site of Elbow. Intraoperative photo courtesy of Peter Fabricant, MD
3D visualization of bone (beige) and entrapped medium nerve (red) at the epicondylar fracture site of the elbow.
3D MR Neurography (MRN): Peripheral Neve Sheath Tumor Arising from Right Femoral Nerve of Lumbosacral Plexus (Pelvis)
Magnetic Resonance Neurography (MRN)
MRN uses high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to depict and interrogate peripheral nerves that are difficult to capture with conventional MRI. Characterization of peripheral nerve injury aids in the diagnosis and management of traumatic and atraumatic conditions.
Research areas include:
- High-resolution, vascular suppression techniques for peripheral nerve visualization
- Imaging biomarkers of Parsonage-Turner syndrome (neuralgic amyotrophy)
- Quantitative techniques, including diffusion MRI, to measure the degree of nerve and muscle injury
- MRI coil development for spine and peripheral nerve imaging
- MRI nerve atlas development
- Novel use of iron agent (ferumoxytol) for vascular suppression
Quantitative T2 mapping of denervated, fatty-infiltrated muscle in the thigh from sciatic neuropathy. Anatomical image (left, proton density), and T2 map (right, in milliseconds)
Funding and Collaborations
Inter-Departmental Collaboration
Ongoing research collaborations exist with Cornell’s College of Veterinary Medicine in Ithaca, the Department of Physics at the Citigroup Biomedical Imaging Center of Weill Cornell Medical College, and the Department of Biomechanics, the Laboratory for Soft Tissue Research, the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at HSS
External Collaborations
An ongoing collaboration exists with the Medical College of Wisconsin to develop and evaluate new techniques for imaging around orthopedic implants
Current NIH-funded grants
- NIH R01 AR064840 (Co-PIs: Potter/Koff, Co-I: Tan & Burge)
- NIH R01 AR075523 (Co-I: Koff & Potter)
- NIH R01 AR081574 (Co-I: Koff & Breighner)
- NIH R21 TR003033 (PI: Sneag, Co-I: Tan)
- NIH R01 EB031820 (Co-PI: Sneag, Co-I: Tan)
- NIH R01 EB029446 (Co-I: Breighner)
- NIH R01 EB028270 (Co-I: Breighner)
- NIH R01 AR071338 (Co-I: Breighner)
- NIH T32 AR078751 (Co-I: Koff & Potter)
Current Industry Collaborations
- GE Healthcare
- Siemens Healthcare
- AMAG Pharmaceuticals
Publications
For all publications, please see the PubMed listing.
Videos
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