Abstract #2217
Toward quantitative biomarkers of cervical structural health: development of MRI tools for in-vivo mechanical property measurement.
Michael Fernandez 1 , Sachin Jambawalikar 2 , and Kristin Myers 1
1
Mechanical Engineering, Columbia University,
New York, NY, United States,
2
Radiology,
Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, United
States
The mechanical properties of cervical tissue and
cervical geometry are crucial factors in the ability of
the cervix to withstand mechanical loading from the
fetus during the course of pregnancy. Transport of
interstitial fluid inside hydrated tissue such as
cervical stroma plays an important role in its
mechanical response. Permeability is a mechanical
property that characterizes bulk fluid transport within
a hydrated tissue or material undergoing mechanical
loading. The purpose of this study was to explore the
coupled relationship between the diffusive properties of
a hydrated material (via ADC) as measured by MRI and its
corresponding hydraulic permeability measured in-vitro.
These results for polyacrylamide hydrogels are a
foundation for the characterization of similar
relationships in human cervical tissue which can
potentially be used as quantitative clinical biomarkers
for cervical mechanical properties and preterm birth
risk.
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