Medical Device Research



VirtualScopics assess both the structural and compositional qualities of biologics and devices used in cartilage repair. Additionally, our image analysis provides a non-invasive assessment of compounds, biologics and devices for prostheses, new bone growth and intervertebral disc repair.

Cartilage Repair

Cartilage defects can be caused by various conditions in the joint, including joint malalignment, osteoarthritis and acute injuries. Often the standard endpoints in cartilage repair studies are pain and functionality scoring. However, these endpoints are largely subjective and difficult to reproduce. Instead, the assessment of these cartilage injuries and the resultant cartilage repair tissue is best analyzed using Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). Such quantitative imaging allows the replacement of a subjective evaluation like pain scoring with an objective quantification such as cartilage thickness or volume.

Our patented algorithm-based approach enables us to quantify the size of cartilage defects and several characteristics of the resulting repair tissue. In addition to structural measurements such as volume, thickness and surface area, there are several scoring systems (MOCART, WORMS, BLOKS) that we employ to assess the repair tissue and the overall health of the joint. By implementing more advanced imaging techniques, we can quantify the composition and quality of the repair tissue.

Among the structural measurements we can provide:

Defect at baseline
  • Volume of the cartilage or subchondral bone defect
  • Thickness of the cartilage defect
  • Surface area of the denuded subchondral bone

Repair tissue at follow-up
  • Volume of the repair tissue
  • Thickness of the repair tissue
  • Percentage fill of the defect
  • Bone-Repair tissue interface surface area
  • Articulating surface area

Surrounding cartilage
  • Volume
  • Thickness
  • Bone-Cartilage interface surface area
  • Articulating surface area

To learn more, download our information sheet: Assessing Cartilage Repair using MRI or contact us at +1 585.249.6231, or sales@virtualscopics.com

© VirtualScopics 2012