Specimen conditioning and imaging system

A conditioning system, comprising:

• a sample chamber capable of receiving a specimen, the sample chamber being sized and shaped so that it can be inserted into an MRI imaging device;
• first and second specimen-holding fixtures positioned within the sample chamber and configured to rotate or displace along an axis to apply mechanical stimulation to the specimen held by the fixtures while the sample chamber is in the MRI imaging device, the first and second specimen-holding fixtures being formed of a material which does not interfere with the MRI imaging device;
• and
• at least one port capable of providing a fluid to one or more of the sample and the sample chamber, the conditioning system being made of materials which allow the specimen contained in the sample chamber to be imaged by the imaging device into which the sample chamber has been inserted.

A method of conditioning and imaging a specimen, comprising:

• providing a sample chamber capable of receiving the specimen;
• placing the specimen into the chamber such that the specimen is located between first and a second specimen-holding fixtures positioned within the sample chamber;
• adjusting the fixtures so that the fixtures hold the specimen;
• applying mechanical stimulation to the specimen held by the fixtures by rotating or displacing at least one of the fixtures along an axis;
• inserting the chamber into an MRI imaging device;
• mechanically stimulating the specimen using at least one of the fixtures while the chamber is in the MRI imaging device, the first and second specimen-holding fixtures being formed of a material which does not interfere with the MRI imaging device;
• and
• recording an image of the specimen.