Transient shear wave elastometry using a portable magnetic resonance sensor

Purpose

Magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) provides detailed maps of tissue stiffness, helping to diagnose various health conditions, but requires the use of expensive clinical MRI scanners. Our approach utilizes compact, cost-effective portable MR sensors that offer bulk characterization of material properties in a region of interest close to the surface (within 1–2 cm). This accessible instrument could enable routine monitoring and prevention of diseases not readily evaluated with conventional tools.

Methods

The method was tested on tissue-mimicking phantoms with varying stiffness. The gels were excited with acoustic pulses (one cycle of a sinusoidal waveform) at a fixed distance from the MR sensor. A series of delays between acoustic excitation and MR signal detection allowed time for the pulse to travel to the sensitive region.

Results

The “arrival time” of the shear wave, determined by the time-dependent MR signal response, was used to calculate the shear wave speed. MR measurements of shear wave speed were compared with optical sensor measurements and manufacturer-tabulated values, aligning with expected relative differences between samples.

Conclusion

A portable MR-based transient elastometry technique for measuring tissue elasticity was developed and demonstrated on tissue-mimicking phantoms. Future improvements include using a new portable magnet to investigate depth-dependent changes in elasticity in stratified samples and integrating MR relaxation and diffusion measurements for comprehensive tissue analysis. This approach can complement conventional MRE in applications where a portable, affordable, and localized assessment of tissue stiffness is required.