TU Delft and Erasmus MC focus on rapid and precise osteoarthritis diagnosis
Osteoarthritis currently affects 1.5 million people in the Netherlands, a number projected to rise to 2.5 million by 2040. One of the greatest challenges in treating this joint condition is its late diagnosis, which often results in incorrect or delayed treatments and can eventually lead to the need for joint replacements. Engineers from TU Delft and physicians from Erasmus MC are collaborating on a solution: a technology that combines biomechanical analyses with dynamic X-ray imaging. To make this possible, they have developed a new facility capable of detecting osteoarthritis at an early stage. This will enable physicians to initiate the appropriate treatment more quickly, helping patients experience less pain and maintain mobility for longer.
Jaap Harlaar, Professor of Clinical Biomechanics, TU Delft
“At the MOBI-lab, we combine dynamic fluoroscopy with biomechanical motion analysis to study how joints are loaded during everyday activities such as walking, running, and cycling. The fluoroscopy captures joint movement, while biomechanical analysis determines cartilage loading. This unique combination of Rotterdam’s medical expertise and Delft’s technological innovation provides in-depth insights into osteoarthritis and enables research that is unmatched anywhere else in the world.”
Edwin Oei, Professor of Musculoskeletal Imaging
“Thanks to the combined expertise of physicians and engineers, we have developed this state-of-the-art facility for the early detection of osteoarthritis. With advanced MRI and PET-MRI scans, we can identify joint damage and cartilage abnormalities even before the cartilage shows visible wear. By combining this data with insights from the MOBI-lab, we obtain a comprehensive picture of joint disruptions. This allows us to diagnose osteoarthritis earlier and offer more targeted treatments, significantly improving patients’ quality of life.”
Collaboration between physicians and engineers
With the lab strategically located in the heart of the hospital, physicians and researchers can not only diagnose early-stage osteoarthritis with unprecedented precision but also collaborate in real time on innovative solutions and rapidly implement appropriate treatments. This accelerates implementation, facilitates scalability, and enables patients to benefit sooner from new diagnostic methods and treatments. The MOBI-lab is a direct result of the collaboration between Erasmus MC, TU Delft, and Erasmus University Rotterdam under the Convergence Health & Technology initiative. Originally initiated as a spin-off from the Medical Delta scientific program Improving Mobility with Technology a few years ago, the collaboration continues to grow. Over the coming years, this partnership will expand further with new projects and innovations contributing to the necessary transformation of healthcare.
Convergence Health & Technology
The Convergence Health & Technology initiative unites TU Delft, Erasmus MC, and Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR) to transform healthcare through technological innovation. By combining technological expertise (TU Delft), medical knowledge (Erasmus MC), and social science insights (EUR), the initiative addresses complex health challenges effectively. This transdisciplinary approach generates new scientific knowledge and accelerates the application and implementation of innovations in healthcare practice. Read more: Health & Technology - Convergence.