Recurring Meeting of Cleveland Clinic Core Team

Date: March 25, 2014

Time: 10:30 AM EST

Means: In person meeting

Attendees:

1. Ahmet Erdemir
2. Jason Halloran
3. Craig Bennetts
4. Snehal Chokhandre
5. Cara Sullivan

Agenda:

1. Discuss immediate action items from the last meeting.
2. Update on anatomical imaging.
3. Evaluation of readiness for mechanical joint testing.
4. Update on data management specifications.
5. Decide immediate action items for the next meeting.
6. Other.

Immediate Action Items:

• Snehal & Jason

  • Follow up with BioRobotics Testing Core to complete unfinished action items.

• Craig
  • Provide sample images from last imaging trial on imaging specifications page.
• Ahmet
  • Summarize results of last imaging trial along with candidate imaging specifications for first Open Knee(s) specimen.
• Cara
  • Provide possible video clip ideas to incorporate into promotional video.
• Snehal and Craig
  • Provide an illustration for sample tissue type and location labeling.

• Robb, Dylan, Snehal & Ahmet

  • Finalize testing chamber design including temperature control.

Notes:

1. Discuss immediate action items from the last meeting.
   • Ahmet updated the workflow illustration.
   • The gravity compensation update is unknown. Tara will be sent an email.
   • Jason needs to update the pressure calibration routine on the Wiki.
   • Craig and Snehal edited the data labeling and management protocol. This is to be discussed.
   • Ahmet and Snehal met to discuss the tissue testing plan.
     • The protocols, Elvis's plan and then secondary and primary tissues were decided on.
     • Before the next meeting Snehal will update the wiki to reflect their conversation.
     • It was decided to keep the quadriceps as a "secondary tissue" and to test unconfined and confined for the cartilage.
     • Snehal asked whether we should test the cartilage in tension. The discussion centered around whether a tension sample can be acquired for the superficial layer and along the split lines. If not, it may not be worth testing as the tensile material behavior may be a mix of matrix and collagen loading. The initial though is to keep this test as "secondary" though this will be explored with Elvis once he arrives.
     • The patella ligament will be tested as a primary structure.
   • Regarding fixtures, Snehal and Robb think most of the MTS fixtures can be utilized though the tank (testing chamber) needs to be modified. This includes temperature control of the bath.
   • Once Elvis arrives he can start testing the knees that Snehal ordered. It is anticipated Elvis will acquire material behavior for multiple tissue types and can help with the tissue testing protocols, including development of cartilage tension samples.
2. Update on anatomical imaging.
   • The progression of imaging test sessions was discussed. The isotropic (0.5mm) T1 without fat suppression is thought of as a good overall image setting, especially for registration.
   • The MESE protocol appears to highlight tissues (ACL, PCL) quite well.
   • Regarding the last imaging session, the desired MESE scans were acquired. A proton density with 0.35x0.35x1.4 mm slice thickness was acquired. A T1 weighted, sagittal, without fat suppression and with fat suppression (cartilage) at 0.35x0.35x0.7 mm image set was tested in order to explore highlighting the cartilage for segmentation.
   • To summarize, the group essentially converged to acquiring:
     1. iso T1 weighted without fat suppression set,
     2. higher in plane resolution (0.35x0.35x0.7 mm) T1 weighted with fat suppression and 3-5. three planes of MESE scans at 0.35x0.35x1.4mm resolution.
   • Craig will provide sample images to help justify these choices.
   • Ahmet will summarize the results of the last imaging trial along with candidate imaging specifications.
   • Filling in the segmentation specifications was also discussed as this is being developed for other projects (specifically Jason and Craig).
3. Evaluation of readiness for mechanical joint testing.
   • Robb talked with Ahmet and it seems their is an issue with the "brakes" (locking mechanism) in the robot.
   • It is anticipated that fixing this issue will require retrofitting of the motors and could take a month or thereabouts.
   • Ahmet proposed that we might use one of Elvis's specimens as a dry run before Open Knees are tested.
   • Final scheduling of the joint testing will be put on hold until the robotic issues are worked out.
   • We discussed the scheduling and the testing will be dictated by the imaging and surgeon schedules. We may be performing the tibio- and patellofemoral testing in one day (a long day) to accommodate these schedules.
4. Update on data management approach.
   • Snehal and Craig's summary of the specimen labeling was discussed.
     • We may change to a 3 letter tissue type followed by a 4 letter name that specifies the location.
     • Images will help describe the naming approach and also provide the description for each of the tissues and their samples.
     • Craig and Snehal were assigned this as an immediate action item.
   • Cara summarized her findings related to the marketing video specifications.
     • The accepted length for promotional videos was found to be 1-3 minutes in length.
     • The summary of a proposed script was discussed (summarized on the wiki).
     • A list of potential snippets (video or stills) will be populated on the wiki. That way, we can start editing the script and can go from there.
     • Cara has a related immediate action item.
5. Decide immediate action items for the next meeting.
   • The team agreed on their immediate action items (see above).
6. Other.
   • None noted.