MR imaging of collagen fibers based on angle dependence of T2 relaxation time

Rupture of the Achilles tendon is a common injury during sports activities. Since this injury can cause many problems in daily life, it would be of great value to develop a method for predicting rupture of the Achilles tendon. The aim of our research is to detect subtle signs of impending rupture noninvasively based on multiple MR images. In the present study, we investigated the angle dependence of the T2 relaxation time of collagen fibers (MAE: Magic Angle Effect). The proposed method is based on the acquisition of multiple MR images with various angles between the static magnetic field and the fiber orientation. By fitting a theoretical curve to the signal intensity profile, it is possible to calculate parameters that can be used for the quantitative evaluation of impending Achilles tendon rupture. The results showed that the proposed method is useful for detecting areas of disordered collagen fiber orientation. (author)