A standardized, open-source, portable model for noninvasive joint injury in mice

This study presents MoJO (Mobile Joint-Injury Operator), an open-source, portable model for noninvasive anterior cruciate ligament rupture (ACLR) in mice, designed for standardization across laboratories. Using the CellScale UniVert S2 system, the protocol achieved a 99% success rate in over 950 ACL ruptures, producing highly repeatable mechanical data. Histological and micro-CT analyses confirmed reproducible post-traumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA) phenotypes consistent with traditional ElectroForce systems, including articular cartilage erosion, osteophyte formation, and synovial inflammation. The model enables high-throughput, reproducible, and mobile preclinical OA research with open-source hardware and data resources.