Virtual Function Anatomy (VFA)
National Institutes of Health Clinical Center (CC)
Summary
This study will use magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ultrasound images to study how muscles, tendons, and bones work together to cause motion. The procedure is one of several tools being developed to characterize normal and impaired musculoskeletal function, with the goal of developing improved methods of diagnosis and treatment of movement disorders. Healthy normal volunteers must be age 5 to unlimited, with or without joint impairment, may be eligible for this study. Volunteers with joint impairment may not have serious injury to the joint being studied, previous surgery on the joint being studied, or extreme pain at the joint being studied. MRI uses a strong magnet and radio waves to create images of the inside of the body. The subject lies on a long narrow couch inside a metal cylinder (the scanner) for up to 3 hours while the scanner gathers data. Earplugs are worn to muffle loud noises caused by electrical switching of radiofrequency circuits used in the scanning process. A special pad or tube may be placed over or around the region being scanned to improve the quality of the data. The subject will be asked to repeatedly move a specific joint, such as the knee, for brief periods, usually less than 5 minutes. The subject can communicate via intercom with the person performing the study at all times during the procedure, and may request to stop the study at any time.
Description
The overall goal of this technology development initiative is to greatly advance the clinical diagnosis and treatment of musculoskeletal impairments as they relate to joint function. The primary focus of this protocol is to initially develop and ultimately validate a combined set of tools (virtual functional anatomy - VFA) that will enable the accurate and precise measurement, analysis and visualization of three-dimensional (3D) static and dynamic musculoskeletal anatomy (e.g., bone shape, skeletal kinematics, tendon and ligament strain, muscle force, and joint space) from imaging data. We pla…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 5–95 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Yes
* INCLUSION CRITERIA: Affected Participants: * Must be between the ages of 5-95 years. * Minors \< 18 years of age, they must be capable of providing assent (verbal or written) with parental or legal guardian permissions obtained. * Adults 18 \>= years of age, they must be able to provide informed consent. * Have the presence of a bone, muscle, soft tissue, connective tissue injury, impairment or related muscular skeletal system pathology. * Ability to have an MRI Scan. Healthy Volunteer Participants * Must be between the ages of 5-95 years. * Minors \< 18 years of age, they must be capabl…
Location
- National Institutes of Health Clinical CenterBethesda, Maryland