G0200203 MRE Measurement for Porcine Liver using Micro-MRI

Abstract

This study aimed to measure a viscoelastic property of porcine liver specimens by the magnetic resonance elastography using micro-magnetic resonance imaging system (micro-MRE). In the experiments, the viscoelastic modulus of gelatin gels was measured. Furthermore, the viscoelastic modulus of a liver specimen obtained from a porcine liver and a liver specimen embedded in a gelatin gel were measured. The specimens were vibrated with longitudinal waves in a micro-MRI with excitation frequency of 50-250 Hz and amplitude of 0.5 mm transmitted by an elastic-bar from a vibration generator. The viscoelastic modulus was calculated as storage shear modulus G' and loss shear modulus G". As a result, G' of the gelatin specimens increased with the excitation frequency, and G" was much smaller than G'. The liver specimen embedded in the gelatin gel was vibrated deeply and G' of the porcine liver increased with the excitation frequency as well as gelatin specimens. The G' of the gelatin gel surrounded the porcine liver specimen corresponded to the value of the gelatin specimens. These results suggest that the viscoelastic modulus of the porcine liver is measured by using the micro-MRE and surrounding the liver with gelatin gel under the excitation conditions.