Abstract
Historic mummies and skeletons have been investigated extensively by modern diagnostic imaging using computed tomography. But magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has never been applied successfully to mummies in a non-invasive way without tissue rehydration. The aim of this study is to show the feasibility and diagnostic impact of mobile MR technology to historic human tissues. The natural glacier mummy Iceman, a mummified recent human cadaver, historic mummified body parts, historic bones, and living volunteers have been analysed by non-invasive, single sided NMR with the NMR-MOUSE®. We acquired high-resolution depth profiles and T2 relaxation curves of the head region of the Iceman mummy in situ in the storage room at the Museum and of the cadaver in the hospital. A spatial differentiation of surface ice layer, cutis, and skull bone up to a depth of 5 mm was possible. In ancient Egyptian mummified specimens, the thickness of a fingernail and a differentiation of a single bandage layer versus the skin underneath were possible. A comparison of depth profiles through different foreheads of mummies, skulls, and living people gives strong evidence, that single-sided NMR with the NMR-MOUSE is a non-invasive technique to determine bone density. Our results demonstrate for the first time the feasibility of non-clinical MRI to visualize historic human tissues in a non-invasive approach.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 257-263 |
| Number of pages | 7 |
| Journal | Journal of Cultural Heritage |
| Volume | 8 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Jan 1 2007 |
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Keywords
- Anatomy
- Bone density
- Glacier mummy
- Iceman
- Magnetic resonance
- NMR-MOUSE
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Chemistry (miscellaneous)
- Conservation
- Sociology and Political Science
- Anthropology
- History
Cite this
Non-invasive spatial tissue discrimination in ancient mummies and bones in situ by portable nuclear magnetic resonance. / Rühli, Frank Jakobus; Böni, Thomas; Perlo, Juan; Casanova, Federico; Baias, Maria; Egarter, Eduard; Blümich, Bernhard.
In: Journal of Cultural Heritage, Vol. 8, No. 3, 01.01.2007, p. 257-263.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Non-invasive spatial tissue discrimination in ancient mummies and bones in situ by portable nuclear magnetic resonance
AU - Rühli, Frank Jakobus
AU - Böni, Thomas
AU - Perlo, Juan
AU - Casanova, Federico
AU - Baias, Maria
AU - Egarter, Eduard
AU - Blümich, Bernhard
PY - 2007/1/1
Y1 - 2007/1/1
N2 - Historic mummies and skeletons have been investigated extensively by modern diagnostic imaging using computed tomography. But magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has never been applied successfully to mummies in a non-invasive way without tissue rehydration. The aim of this study is to show the feasibility and diagnostic impact of mobile MR technology to historic human tissues. The natural glacier mummy Iceman, a mummified recent human cadaver, historic mummified body parts, historic bones, and living volunteers have been analysed by non-invasive, single sided NMR with the NMR-MOUSE®. We acquired high-resolution depth profiles and T2 relaxation curves of the head region of the Iceman mummy in situ in the storage room at the Museum and of the cadaver in the hospital. A spatial differentiation of surface ice layer, cutis, and skull bone up to a depth of 5 mm was possible. In ancient Egyptian mummified specimens, the thickness of a fingernail and a differentiation of a single bandage layer versus the skin underneath were possible. A comparison of depth profiles through different foreheads of mummies, skulls, and living people gives strong evidence, that single-sided NMR with the NMR-MOUSE is a non-invasive technique to determine bone density. Our results demonstrate for the first time the feasibility of non-clinical MRI to visualize historic human tissues in a non-invasive approach.
AB - Historic mummies and skeletons have been investigated extensively by modern diagnostic imaging using computed tomography. But magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has never been applied successfully to mummies in a non-invasive way without tissue rehydration. The aim of this study is to show the feasibility and diagnostic impact of mobile MR technology to historic human tissues. The natural glacier mummy Iceman, a mummified recent human cadaver, historic mummified body parts, historic bones, and living volunteers have been analysed by non-invasive, single sided NMR with the NMR-MOUSE®. We acquired high-resolution depth profiles and T2 relaxation curves of the head region of the Iceman mummy in situ in the storage room at the Museum and of the cadaver in the hospital. A spatial differentiation of surface ice layer, cutis, and skull bone up to a depth of 5 mm was possible. In ancient Egyptian mummified specimens, the thickness of a fingernail and a differentiation of a single bandage layer versus the skin underneath were possible. A comparison of depth profiles through different foreheads of mummies, skulls, and living people gives strong evidence, that single-sided NMR with the NMR-MOUSE is a non-invasive technique to determine bone density. Our results demonstrate for the first time the feasibility of non-clinical MRI to visualize historic human tissues in a non-invasive approach.
KW - Anatomy
KW - Bone density
KW - Glacier mummy
KW - Iceman
KW - Magnetic resonance
KW - NMR-MOUSE
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=34548452068&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=34548452068&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.culher.2007.03.002
DO - 10.1016/j.culher.2007.03.002
M3 - Article
VL - 8
SP - 257
EP - 263
JO - Journal of Cultural Heritage
JF - Journal of Cultural Heritage
SN - 1296-2074
IS - 3
ER -