Skin examination using the NMR-MOUSE
We plan to use the NMR-MOUSE (MObile Universal Surface Explorer) to meassure NMR-profiles of Hydrogen and -if possible- sodium in human skin in the scope of physiologigical research.
First steps are to fulfill the technical and legal requirements for using the NMR-MOUSE in humans, and to assess the precision of the meassurements using phantoms, similar to skin with exactly known geometry and chemical composition.
One scientific goal is the investigation of the mechanisms of skin volume regulation in different regions of the human body. Probably they are different, depending on the hydrostatic pressure difference from the heart in earth's gravity. In the weightlessness of space these mechanisms cause edemas ofhe head and a strong dehydratation of the legs. Moreover we want to study the connection between the salt homeostasis and the volume and salt regulation in the skin in humans.
Magnetic Resonace Tomography (MRT) using Mobile Low Field Systems
One technical goal within the VI "Portable NMR" is the design of closed or ring shaped MRT-systems with a field strength of 0.5 Tesla and an inner diameter, sufficient for immaging human arms and legs.
For validation, these new Low field MRT-instruments will be compared to clinical MRTs and to our pqCT-instrument, using cross-section images of arms and legs at defined anatomic positions.
Partners:
Institute of Chemistry and Dynamics of the Geosphere (ICG) Head of the VI
Institute for Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry (ITMC), RWTH Aachen