Open Knee(s): Virtual Biomechanical Representations of the Knee Joint

This site contains magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and joint mechanical characterization data for 8 human cadaveric knees that included male and female, young and elderly, and healthy and osteoarthritic donors. Imaging was performed on a 3T magnet and included general purpose imaging (3D T1-weighted without fat suppression, isotropic, 0.5 mm resolution); cartilage imaging (3D T1-weighted with fat suppression, 0.35 mm sagittal plane resolution, 0.7 mm out of plane resolution); and connective tissue imaging (proton density, turbo spin echo in sagittal, axial, and coronal planes, 0.35 mm in plane and 2.8 mm out of plane resolution). Joint mechanical testing was performed using a 6 degree of freedom (DoF) parallel robot and the tibiofemoral joint for each specimen underwent a series of laxity and combined loading tests at various flexion angles. Patellofemoral contact mechanics were also obtained for a series of quadriceps loading at several flexion angles, for each specimen.