Xuejiao Che1, Ryan Brown 1,2, Leeor Alon1,2, Ravinder R Regatte1, and Prodromos Parasoglou1
1Department of Radiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States, 2NYU WIRELESS, Polytechnic Institute of New York University, Brooklyn, NY, United States
In this work, we
designed and constructed an inexpensive MR compatible ergometer that can be used
for studying lower leg muscle metabolism. This ergometer allows subjects to
perform a plantar flexion exercise protocol while 31P-MR data are
acquired. The
device is easy to use, and it can be positioned inside the bore of the magnet
in less than 10 min. The mechanical power exerted by the subject can be
estimated from force and angle displacement signals that are continuously monitored,
while the exersice intensity can be varied by changing the number and/or the
material of the resistive elastic cords.