Noninvasive diagnostic system
Inventors
Mahfouz, Mohamed R. • Wasielewski, Ray C. • Komistek, Richard D.
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-11776686-B2
Publication Date
2023-10-03
Expiration Date
Abstract
A method for diagnosing a joint condition includes in one embodiment: creating a 3d model of the patient specific bone; registering the patient's bone with the bone model; tracking the motion of the patient specific bone through a range of motion; selecting a database including empirical mathematical descriptions of the motion of a plurality actual bones through ranges of motion; and comparing the motion of the patient specific bone to the database.
Core Innovation
The invention provides a non-invasive joint diagnostic system and method for analyzing motion of a patient’s joint. It creates a patient-specific 3D joint model from an ultrasound scan using pulse-echo A-mode ultrasound, and the joint is registered to the 3D joint model so the model replicates the motion tracked.
Motion is tracked through the range of motion using one or more inertia based sensors attached near the patient’s joint. In examples, the system includes an ultrasound transducer and an inertial sensor within each inertia based sensor, and a bone motion tracking brace can be releasably coupled proximate the joint for carrying the ultrasound transducer and inertial sensor, with sensed data wirelessly transmitted while the joint is moved.
The system optionally captures vibrational data during motion and compares motion and/or vibrational features to a database, or classifies extracted motion features using a trained multilayer backpropagation neural network, to diagnose an injury type and severity. The disclosure includes a database of empirical mathematical descriptions, an empirical vibration database, and dynamic joint motion descriptions representing healthy versus clinically undesirable motion, and the method displays the patient-specific 3D joint model reflecting movement in real time, including weight bearing motion through the range of motion.
Claims Coverage
The independent claims are clm-00001, clm-00007, and clm-00013. Across these independent claims, the disclosed inventive features center on creating and registering a patient-specific 3D joint model from ultrasound, non-invasive motion tracking using inertia based sensors, and real-time display of the tracked movement, with weight bearing motion and wireless data reception/transmission included in some independent claim formulations.
Patient-specific 3D joint model from ultrasound scan and registration
Creating a 3D joint model of the patient’s joint from an ultrasound scan, registering the patient’s joint with the 3D joint model, and displaying the 3D joint model to replicate motion tracked.
Inertia based sensors near the joint for non-invasive motion tracking
Attaching one or more inertia based sensors near the patient’s joint and non-invasively tracking motion of the patient’s joint through the range of motion using the inertia based sensors.
Real-time display of the patient-specific 3D joint model reflecting tracked movement
Displaying, in real-time, the patient-specific 3D joint model reflecting movement of the patient’s joint through the range of motion while being tracked, including replicating movement across the range of motion.
Weight bearing motion tracking using inertia based sensors
Non-invasively tracking weight bearing motion of the patient’s joint through a range of motion using one or more inertia based sensors and displaying the patient-specific 3D joint model reflecting movement during tracking.
Ultrasound transducer-based registration and wireless inertial data reception
Registering the patient’s joint with a patient-specific 3D joint model using an ultrasound transducer, wirelessly receiving data from an inertial sensor while the patient’s joint is moved through a weight bearing range of motion, and displaying the patient-specific 3D joint model in real-time reflecting tracked movement.
Taken together, the independent claims cover non-invasive joint motion analysis built around ultrasound-based patient-specific 3D joint modeling with registration, inertia based sensor attachment and tracking, and real-time display of the tracked joint motion, with weight bearing motion and wireless inertial data transmission/reception as key claim elements in the independent claim set.
Stated Advantages
No ionizing radiation, as contrasted with fluoroscopy/X-ray and MRI.
Continuous loaded motion capture using non-invasive tracking of weight bearing motion through a range of motion.
Documented Applications
Joint condition diagnosis based on comparing kinematic/vibration features to a database and/or classifying extracted motion features with a multilayer backpropagation neural network, including diagnosing injury type and severity such as ligament injury.
Non-invasive analysis of weight bearing joint motion with real-time reflection of movement in a patient-specific 3D joint model.
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