NONINVASIVE DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM

• US 20120029345A1
• Filed: 08/02/2011
• Published: 02/02/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: JointVue, LLC
• Original Assignee: JointVue, LLC
• Inventors: Mahfouz, Mohamed R., Wasielewski, Ray C., Komistek, Richard
• Application Number:
  US13/196,701
• Publication Number:
  US 20120029345A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/427
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/105 Modelling of the patient, e.g. for ligaments or bones
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/2048 using an accelerometer or inertia sensor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/2051 Electromagnetic tracking systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/02 Details of sensors specially adapted for in-vivo measurements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0204 Acoustic sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0219 Inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes, tilt switches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0247 Pressure sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/046 in a matrix array
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/20 Surgical navigation systems; Devices for tracking or guiding surgical instruments, e.g. for frameless stereotaxis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0004 characterised by the type of physiological signal transmitted
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/002 Monitoring the patient using a local or closed circuit, e.g. in a room or building A61B5/0017 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0059 using light, e.g. diagnosis by transillumination, diascopy, fluorescence A61B5/0093, A61B5/1455, A61B5/02416 and A61B5/0261 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1036 Measuring load distribution, e.g. podologic studies
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1038 Measuring plantar pressure during gait
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/11 Measuring movement of the entire body or parts thereof, e.g. head or hand tremor, mobility of a limb for measuring pulse A61B5/02 ;A61B5/1038 takes precedence; motion detection to correct for motion artifacts in physiological signals A61B5/721
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1114 Tracking parts of the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/112 Gait analysis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1121 Determining geometric values, e.g. centre of rotation or angular range of movement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1127 using markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/24 : Detecting, measuring or recording bioelectric or biomagnetic signals of the body or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/389 : Electromyography [EMG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4528 : Joints A61B5/4533, A61B5/4538 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4533 : Ligaments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4585 : Evaluating the knee
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6807 : Footwear
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6828 : Leg
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6831 : Straps, bands or harnesses
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6833 : Adhesive patches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/72 : Signal processing specially adapted for physiological signals or for diagnostic purposes character recognition, recognising digital ink, document-oriented image-based pattern recognition G06V30/00; recognition or understanding of postal images G06V30/424
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7267 : involving training the classification device
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/743 : Displaying an image simultaneously with additional graphical information, e.g. symbols, charts, function plots
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7435 : Displaying user selection data, e.g. icons in a graphical user interface
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/0858 : involving measuring tissue layers, e.g. skin, interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/0875 : for diagnosis of bone A61B5/4504 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4227 : characterised by straps, belts, cuffs or braces
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4236 : characterised by adhesive patches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4254 : using sensors mounted on the probe
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4263 : using sensors not mounted on the probe, e.g. mounted on an external reference frame
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4472 : Wireless probes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4477 : using several separate ultrasound transducers or probes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/466 : adapted to display 3D data 3D imaging and stereoscopic displays in devices for short-range imaging with acoustic waves G01S15/8993 and G01S7/52068, respectively; 3D image rendering G06T15/00; manipulating 3D models for computer graphics G06T19/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/467 : characterised by special input means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/483 : involving the acquisition of a 3D volume of data
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/5223 : for extracting a diagnostic or physiological parameter from medical diagnostic data for algorithms to analyse biomedical images G06T7/0012
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/5238 : for combining image data of patient, e.g. merging several images from different acquisition modes into one image for image registration algorithms G06T7/30
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 3/084 : Backpropagation, e.g. using gradient descent
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 : relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 : for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/50 : for simulation or modelling of medical disorders

Abstract

A device for acquiring data and diagnosing a musculoskeletal injury. The device includes a semi-flexible housing, at least one ultrasonic transducer, a positional localizer, and a transmission system. The semi-flexible housing is positioned proximate a portion of the musculoskeletal system of a patient and supports the at least one ultrasonic transducer and the positional localizer. The at least one ultrasonic transducer is configured to acquire an ultrasonic data indicative of a bone surface. The positional localizer is positioned at a select location relative to the at least one ultrasonic transducer and tracks movement of the housing. The transmission system transmits the ultrasonic data of the at least one ultrasonic transducer and the movement data of the positional localizer to a data analyzer for analysis and diagnosis.

Claims

1. A device for acquiring data and diagnosing a musculoskeletal injury, the device comprising:

a semi-flexible housing configured to be positioned proximate a portion of the musculoskeletal system of a patient;

at least one ultrasonic transducer operably coupled to the housing and configured to acquire an ultrasonic data indicative of a bone surface;

a positional localizer operably coupled to the housing at a select location relative to the at least one ultrasonic transducer, the positional localizer configured to track movement of the housing; and

a transmission system operably coupled to the housing and configured to transmit the ultrasonic data from the at least one ultrasonic transducer and the movement data from the positional localizer to a data analyzer for analysis and diagnosis.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is a brace configured to surround the portion of the musculoskeletal system for diagnosis.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the brace is a knee brace for diagnosing a knee injury, the knee brace further comprising:

a first ultrasonic transducer positioned proximate the distal femur; and

a second ultrasonic transducer positioned proximate the proximal tibia.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the first ultrasonic transducer, the second ultrasonic transducer, or both is comprised of an individual transducer tracking unit.

5. The device of claim 3, wherein the first ultrasonic transducer, the second ultrasonic transducer, or both is comprised of an inter-transducer mechanical link unit.

6. The device of claim 3, wherein the first ultrasonic transducer, the second ultrasonic transducer, or both is comprised of a rotating transducer unit.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the positional localizer is an optical sensor device, an inertial measurement unit device, an ultra-wide band sensor device, or a combination thereof.

8. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a vibrational sensor operably coupled to the housing and configured to acquire a vibration signal generated during movement of the portion of the musculoskeletal system.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the vibrational sensor comprises at least one accelerometer.

10. A method of diagnosing a musculoskeletal injury, the method comprising:

creating a 3D model of a portion of the musculoskeletal system of a patient;

acquiring a feature data with a sensor positioned proximate the portion of the musculoskeletal system while the portion is articulated;

comparing, with a neural network, the acquired feature data with a database of feature data, wherein the database of feature data includes a dataset representative of the musculoskeletal injury; and

returning a diagnosis based on the comparing.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

positioning a sensor proximate the portion of the musculoskeletal system;

operating the sensor to acquire the feature data; and

transferring the acquired feature data to the neural network.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the sensor is an ultrasound transducer and the feature data includes an ultrasonic signal indicative of a bone surface, the method further comprising:

tracking a position of the ultrasound transducer relative to the portion of the musculoskeletal system.

13. The method of claim 10, where creating a 3D model further comprises:

acquiring structural data indicative of a surface of a bone within the portion of the musculoskeletal system; and

morphing a general bone model in accordance with the structural data.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the structural data includes an ultrasonic signal, a computerized tomography data, a fluoroscopy data, or a combination thereof.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the feature data includes a vibrational data, a kinematic data, a contact force data, or a combination thereof.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the feature data comprises the vibrational data and the kinematic data, the vibrational data being time-synchronized with the kinematic data.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein comparing the acquired feature data further comprises:

training the neural network with a plurality of datasets, wherein at least one of the plurality of datasets is the dataset representative of the musculoskeletal injury.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein the feature data includes a shear measurement, at least one Euler angle, a translational component, a force data, or a combination thereof.

19. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

displaying the returned diagnosis, the 3D model, the acquired feature data, or a combination thereof on a user interface.

20. A diagnostic system for diagnosing a musculoskeletal injury, the diagnostic system comprising:

a 3D model reconstruction module configured to acquire a structural data indicative of a bone surface within a portion of the musculoskeletal system of a patient and to construct a patient-specific model from the structural data;

a kinematics tracking module configured to acquire a movement data while the portion of the musculoskeletal system is articulated;

a vibroarthography module configured to acquire a vibration data generated during the articulation; and

an intelligent diagnosis module configured to receive and analyze the structural data, the movement data, and the vibration data and to determine an injury type from the analysis.

21. The diagnostic system of claim 20, wherein the 3D model reconstruction module further comprises:

an ultrasound transducer configured to acquire an ultrasonic signal indicative of the bone surface;

a position sensor having a select location relative to the ultrasound transducer, the position sensor configured to track movement of the portion of the musculoskeletal system; and

a statistical bone atlas comprising a plurality of bone models, wherein at least one of the plurality of bone models is morphed in accordance with the ultrasonic signal.

22. The diagnostic system of claim 20, wherein the kinematics tracking module further comprises:

a brace configured to be positioned proximate the portion of the musculoskeletal system;

at least one ultrasonic transducer operably coupled to the brace and configured to acquire an ultrasonic data indicative of the bone surface;

a positional localizer operably coupled to the brace at a select location relative to the at least one ultrasonic transducer, the positional localizer configured to track movement of the brace; and

a transmission system operably coupled to the brace and configured to transmit the ultrasonic data from the at least one ultrasonic transducer and the movement data from the positional localizer to the intelligent diagnosis module.

23. The diagnostic system of claim 20, wherein the vibroarthography module further comprises:

at least one vibrational sensor positioned proximate the portion of the musculoskeletal system; and

a transmission system configured to transmit the vibration data from the at least one vibrational sensor to the intelligent diagnosis module.

24. The diagnostic system of claim 20, wherein the intelligent diagnosis module further comprises:

a neural network configured to compare the movement data, the vibration data, or both to a database comprising of movement, vibrational, and injury data, wherein the database includes the movement data or the vibration data and an associated musculoskeletal injury type;

at least one transformation configured to transfer an acquired data to a virtual data; and

a statistical atlas comprising a plurality of bone models, wherein at least one of the plurality of bone models is morphed in accordance with the structural data to construct the patient-specific model.

25. The diagnostic system of claim 20, further comprising:

a contact force module configured to acquire a pressure data while the portion of the musculoskeletal system is articulated.

26. The diagnostic system of claim 25, wherein the contract for module comprises:

a shoe insole configured to be positioned on a foot of a patient;

a plurality of pressure sensors operably coupled to the shoe insole and arranged in a pattern; and

a transmission system operably coupled to the shoe insole and configured to transmit the pressure data from the plurality of pressure sensors to the intelligent diagnosis module.