Surgery – Diagnostic testing – Measuring anatomical characteristic or force applied to or...
Patent
1997-11-25
1999-04-20
Hindenburg, Max
Surgery
Diagnostic testing
Measuring anatomical characteristic or force applied to or...
A61B 503
Patent
active
058953647
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to bone quality assessment, and, more particularly, relates to bone mass measurement and monitoring in a patient which can be used for the diagnosis of osteoporosis.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Existing techniques for bone quality assessment are based on photon and X-ray absorptiometry and X-ray quantitative computed tomography. Gramp et al. The Radiological Clinics of North America 1993 31(5):1133-1141; Faulkner et al. Am. J. Roentgenology 1991 157:1229-1237. Each of these methods are routinely used in clinical practice. However, these techniques have limited applicability because of expensive and bulky equipment and potential risk of radiation during the procedure.
The application of acoustic energy for non-invasive skeletal diagnosis has also been shown to be feasible and has advantages for bone mass and strength measurement. Jurist, J. Phys. Med. Biol. 1970 15:417-426; Orne, D. Biomechanics 1974 7:249-257; Thomson et al. Med. Biol. Eng. 1976 14:253-262; Saha, S. and Lakes, R. S., J. Biomechan. 1977 10:393-401; Doherty et al. J. Biomechan. 1974 7:559-561; Waud et al. Calcif. Tissue Int. 1992 51:415-418; Selle, W. A. and Jurist, J. M. J. Am. Geriat. Soc. 1966b 14:930. Unlike conventional radiological techniques, acoustic techniques emit no radiation, are cost effective, and utilize equipment which is portable and easy to operate. Subsonic techniques for determining the in vivo properties of bone, known as impedance and resonance methods are based on measurement of the response of a bone to a flexural wave excitation in the frequency range 200 to 1000 Hz. A correlation between the resonance frequency of the human ulna and osteoporosis has been reported. However, while a significant number of acoustic tests have been performed, these techniques have not been used as a bone diagnostic tool for clinical application because of difficulties in the interpretation of the measurements. Ultrasound velocity and attenuation depend on density as well as on certain other properties of bone. A recent report showed that only 53% of broadband ultrasound attenuation (BUA) value and 44% of velocity of sound (VOS) value can be accounted for by bone density. Waud et al. Calcif. Tissue Int. 1992 51:415-418. Interpretation of subsonic measurement of flexural vibration of bone is also a difficult task and to a great extent, depends upon a corresponding mathematical model of the test object. The effect of soft tissues creates additional difficulties in the interpretation and use of these techniques.
A non-invasive, nonhazardous and cost effective infrasound resonance method for the quantitative measurement and monitoring of bone quality has now been developed involving the measurement of the rigid body longitudinal resonance of a bone. Instrumentation for making these measurements is also provided.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a noninvasive apparatus for measuring force and vibration velocity to determine the mass of a bone which comprises a platform for supporting a bone to be measured, a spring having a selected stiffness which connects the platform to a sensor capable of measuring vibration velocity and force, and a vibrating means connected to the sensor, wherein the vibrating means exposes the sensor, the spring and the platform to vibration so that vibration velocity and force can be measured by the sensor and the mass of the bone determined.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a method of noninvasively measuring vibration velocity and force to determine the mass of a bone which comprises positioning a bone to be measured on a platform wherein the platform is attached to a spring having a selected stiffness, exposing the platform to vibration wherein the vibration is generated by a vibrating means, and measuring vibration velocity and force to determine bone mass.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
FIG. 1 provides a block diagram of a subsonic mechanism for quantitative measurement of bone quality.
REFERENCES:
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Doherty et al., "Evaluation of the Use of Resonant Frequences to Characterize Physical Properties of Human Long Bones", J. Biomechan. 1974 7:559-561.
Faulkner et al., "Noninvasive Measurements of Bone Mass, Structure, and Strength: Current Methods and Experimental Techniques",Am. J. Roentgenology 1991 157:1229-1237.
Grampp et al., "Current Methods and Perspectives", The Radiological Clinics of North America 1993 31 (5) :1133-1141.
Jurist, J.,"In .sup.Vivo Determination of the Elastic Response of Bone I. Method of Ulnar Resonant Frequency Determination",Phys. Med. Biol. 1970 15:417-426.
Orne, D., "The .sup.In Vivo Driving-Point Impedance of the Human Ulna-A Viscoelastic Beam Model", Biomechanics 1974 7:249-257.
Praemer et al., "Musculoskeletal Conditions in the United States",American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons 1992 46-52.
Saha, S. and Lakes, R.S., "The Effect of Soft Tissue On Wave-Propagation and Vibration Tests For Determining The .sup.In Vivo Properties of Bone",J. Biomechan. 1977 10:393-401.
Selle, W.A. and Jurist, J.M., "The Onset of Postmenopausal Osteoporosis as Studied By a New Technique", J. Am. Geriat. Soc. 1966b 14: 930.
Thompson et al., "In .sup.Vivo determination of mechanical properties of the human ulna by means of mechanical impedance tests: Experimental results and improved mathematical model", Med. Biol. Eng. 1976 14: 253-262.
Wand et al., "The Relationship Between Ultrasound and Densitometric Measurements of Bone Mass at the Calcaneus in Women", Calcif. Tissue Int. 1992 51: 415-418.
Hindenburg Max
The Trustees of Stevens Institute of Technology
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