Articular Surface Topography from Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Articular surfaces of diarthrodial joints can be reconstructed from magnetic resonance images which are obtained using sequences that enhance cartilage. The process for creating geometric models of the articular layer is as follows:

  1. First, the magnetic resonance image is obtained. In this example, the knee joint of a 41 y.o. female is imaged on a General Electric Signa 1.5 T machine at the Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center.
  2. Once the MR image has been obtained, it is segmented.
  3. From sequential MRI slices of the joint, a wireframe model can be constructed. Alternatively, the data can be represented simply as a point cloud.
  4. The data are subsequently fitted with a B-spline surface, using spherical parametric coordinates. The surface is then trimmed.
  5. The surface can now be imported into any standard engineering modeling software for further analysis.
New York Orthopaedic Hospital Research Laboratory