title: Investigations of silicone breast implants with the NMR-MOUSE.
abstract: Silicone breast implants are used for breast augmentation and breast reconstruction. The issues of concern associated with such implants are: (a) the quality control of each implant before implantation, and (b) the detection of implant bleeding after implantation. We have studied the use of the Nuclear Magnetic Resonance-MObile Universal Surface Explorer (NMR-MOUSE) for the nondestructive testing of (a) the quality of implant shells, and (b) changes in implant gel due to leakage of body fluid into the implant. Depth profiles measured nondestructively through implant shells at different positions of each implant by the Profile NMR-MOUSE assured good reproducibility of the quality and thickness of different shell layers. The leakage of implants upon rupture was mimicked by observing changes in the transverse NMR relaxation time of the implant gel upon ingress of physiological saline solution and safflower oil through the rupture. Results demonstrate that nondestructive testing with unilateral NMR is a potential method for use in the quality control of implants and for the screening of implants for rupture after implantation.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Technical Chemistry and Macromolecular Chemistry, RWTH Aachen University, D-52056 Aachen, Germany.
authors.forename: Mirko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Krüger
authors.forename: Annett
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schwarz
authors.forename: Bernhard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Blümich
mesh_terms: D018427:Breast Implants; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy / Q000379:methods*; D008422:Materials Testing / Q000295:instrumentation; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D020034:Silicone Gels / Q000737:chemistry*; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D020034:Silicone Gels