Simple method to measure magnetic resonance anisotropic t2 relaxation times in human knee cartilage

A system, comprising:

• one or more processors;
• and
• one or more memories storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:
• acquire a single sagittal T2-weighted magnetic resonance image of cartilage associated with a human joint;
• measure an internal reference signal in this acquired sagittal image, wherein the internal reference signal is a signal intensity (S(θ)) from the cartilage with its collagen fiber orientated approximately 54.7° to the main magnetic field;
• calculate an anisotropic R2 relaxation rate (R(θ)2a) for the cartilage, using the following equation:
• R(θ)2a={log(S(θ=±54.7°))−log(S(θ))}/TE;
• and
• determine an indication of a degeneration of the cartilage using the calculated anisotropic R2 relaxation rates.

A tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium storing executable instructions that when executed by at least one processor of a computing device, cause the computing device to:

• acquire a single sagittal T2-weighted magnetic resonance image of cartilage associated with a human joint;
• measure an internal reference signal in this acquired sagittal image, wherein the internal reference signal is a signal intensity (S(θ)) from the cartilage with its collagen fiber orientated approximately 54.7° to the main magnetic field;
• calculate an anisotropic R2 relaxation rate (R(θ)2a) for the cartilage, using the following equation:
• R(θ)2a={log(S(θ=±54.7°))−log(S(θ))}/TE;
• and
• determine an indication of a degeneration of the a degeneration of the cartilage using the calculated anisotropic R2 relaxation rates.