Visibly networked

Nowadays, millions of plastic meshes are implanted as stabilization elements in the case of tissue deficits or breaks. This type of surgical repair enables weak points in the groin, abdominal wall and pelvic floor to be bridged over.

But as time goes by, such meshes can become considerably deformed in their structure due to shrinking processes and in-growing scar tissue. These changes can lead to fresh breaks, organ damage and pain, thereby making further intervention necessary. However, such deformed mesh structures are difficult or impossible to trace in preoperative diagnostics.

In a cross-disciplinary research project conducted by RWTH Aachen University, the Institute of Medical Engineering and FEG Textiltechnik a process has now been developed which allows visible differentiation between mesh and tissue areas in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). „We placed small iron particles in the hernia mesh,“ says Nils Krämer of the Radiological Clinic. The consortium conducted thorough research into how superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) can best be incorporated so as to make implanted meshes perfectly visible. The SPIO creates a disturbance of the magnetic field, causing the protons in the tissue and the iron meshes to show different properties in the MRI. In this way, the plastic meshes can be distinguished from anatomical structures such as the intestines or liver.

www.rwth-aachen.de