A bone elasticity measurement device and method based on X-ray photoacoustic effect

Abstract

The present invention relates to a bone elasticity measuring device and method based on X-ray photoacoustic effect, which is used to measure the bone elasticity of a bone to be measured. The bone elasticity measuring device includes a computer, an X-ray generator and an ultrasonic transducer; the X-ray generator is used to receive the control of the computer and emit X-rays to the bone to be measured; the ultrasonic transducer is used to receive the ultrasonic signal generated by the bone to be measured due to the photoacoustic effect and send it to the computer; the computer controls the X-ray generator to emit X-rays to the bone to be measured, receives the ultrasonic signal generated by the photoacoustic effect through the ultrasonic transducer, and stores it in the computer for calculating the bone elasticity. Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the advantages of high accuracy and large measurement depth.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of bone elasticity detection, and in particular to a bone elasticity measurement device and method based on X-ray photoacoustic effect. Background Art

[0002] Bones are important organs of the human body. They support movement, protect organs, and regulate life metabolism. They are the basis of human health. Bone diseases not only directly cause bone loss, structural damage, and fractures, but also lead to a comprehensive decline in body functions. Bone health is determined by bone density, elasticity, and structure. Early diagnosis and timely treatment of osteoporosis are of great significance.

[0003] At present, bone health evaluation is mainly based on X-ray bone density absorption measurement technology, such as X-rays, single and double photon absorption, quantitative CT and dual-energy X-ray method (DXA). X-ray bone density absorption measurement technology mainly uses X-rays to transmit through different tissues, which will produce different degrees of attenuation, thereby reflecting bone mineral density information. X-ray bone densitometers can only provide bone mineral density (BMD) and cannot fully reflect bone elasticity and health information.

[0004] The photoacoustic effect refers to the phenomenon that biological tissue absorbs laser energy and undergoes thermoelastic expansion under pulsed laser irradiation, thereby generating ultrasonic signals (ultrasonic signals are mechanical vibration signals). Traditional photoacoustic technology uses laser irradiation of tissue to generate ultrasonic signals, which has important applications in medical diagnosis and imaging.

[0005] Chinese patent CN106037818A discloses a photoacoustic and ultrasonic dual-mode osteoporosis detection method and device, and proposes to measure collagen with photoacoustic technology and measure bone density with ultrasonic technology to improve the ability to evaluate bone quality; Chinese patent CN111110190A discloses a method for evaluating bone elastic modulus using photoacoustic time domain signals, and evaluates the bone elastic modulus information of cancellous bone based on the theoretical relationship between photoacoustic time domain signals and cancellous bone elastic modulus; U.S. Patent US9833187B2 discloses generating ultrasonic signals by photoacoustic technology, analyzing the characteristics of ultrasonic signals conducted in long bones to reflect bone density and bone quality. The photoacoustic technologies used in these patents are all laser irradiation. However, a major problem with laser irradiation is that the penetration depth of laser in biological tissue is very limited (penetration in soft tissues such as muscles is about centimeters, and penetration in bone tissue is only millimeters). Laser cannot penetrate bone tissue, and photoacoustic technology using laser irradiation is difficult to form in vivo application of bone parameter measurement. Summary of the invention

[0006] The purpose of the present invention is to overcome the defects of the above-mentioned prior art and to provide a bone elasticity measurement device and method based on X-ray photoacoustic effect with high accuracy and large measurement depth.

[0007] The purpose of the present invention can be achieved by the following technical solutions:

[0008] A bone elasticity measuring device based on X-ray photoacoustic effect, used to measure the bone elasticity of a bone to be measured, the bone elasticity measuring device comprising a computer, an X-ray generator and an ultrasonic transducer;

[0009] An X-ray generator, which is used to receive the control of a computer and emit X-rays to the bones to be measured;

[0010] An ultrasonic transducer is used to receive the ultrasonic signal generated by the bone to be measured due to the photoacoustic effect and send it to a computer;

[0011] The computer controls the X-ray generator to emit X-rays to the bone to be measured, receives the ultrasonic signal generated by the photoacoustic effect through the ultrasonic transducer, and stores it in the computer for calculating the bone elasticity.

[0012] Preferably, the bone elasticity measuring device is provided with a control circuit, the input end of the control circuit is connected to a computer, and the output end of the control circuit is connected to an X-ray generator, for controlling the X-ray generator to emit X-rays.

[0013] Preferably, the bone elasticity measuring device also includes a signal amplifier and an analog-to-digital converter; the output end of the ultrasonic transducer is connected to the input end of the signal amplifier; the output end of the signal amplifier is connected to the input end of the analog-to-digital converter; and the output end of the analog-to-digital converter is connected to a computer.

[0014] Preferably, the computer is embedded with an executable program for calculating bone elasticity, specifically:

[0015] First, obtain the ultrasonic signal at a certain position of the bone to be measured and calculate its spectrum S B ;

[0016] Then, the ultrasonic signal of the standard phantom with elastic modulus E0 is obtained, and its spectrum S0 is calculated;

[0017] Finally, calculate the elasticity E of the bone to be measured B .

[0018] More preferably, the bone elasticity E B The calculation method is:

[0019]

[0020] Among them, k1, k2 and k3 are coefficients.

[0021] More preferably, the coefficients k1, k2 and k3 are obtained by multivariate linear analysis.

[0022] A method for measuring bone elasticity based on the X-ray photoacoustic effect, the method comprising:

[0023] Step 1: The computer controls the X-ray generator to emit short pulse X-rays, which are irradiated on the bone to be measured;

[0024] Step 2: The ultrasonic transducer receives the ultrasonic signal generated by the photoacoustic effect of the bone to be measured and inputs it into the computer;

[0025] Step 3: The computer calculates the bone elasticity and outputs it.

[0026] More preferably, the step 1 is specifically:

[0027] The computer controls the X-ray generator to emit short pulse X-rays through the control line.

[0028] More preferably, the step 2 is specifically as follows:

[0029] After the ultrasonic transducer receives the ultrasonic signal generated by the photoacoustic effect of the bone to be measured, it is processed by the signal amplifier and analog-to-digital converter and then input into the computer.

[0030] More preferably, the step 3 is specifically as follows:

[0031] The computer calculates bone elasticity by executing the following executable program:

[0032] First, obtain the ultrasonic signal at a certain position of the bone to be measured and calculate its spectrum S B ;

[0033] Then, the ultrasonic signal of the standard phantom with elastic modulus E0 is obtained, and its spectrum S0 is calculated;

[0034] Finally, calculate the elasticity E of the bone to be measured B ;

[0035]

[0036] Among them, k1, k2 and k3 are coefficients obtained by multivariate linear analysis.

[0037] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0038] 1. High accuracy: The bone elasticity measurement device and method of the present invention use X-rays in combination with ultrasonic transducers to obtain ultrasonic signals of the bone to be measured, and use this to calculate bone elasticity; unlike traditional bone density X-rays that only measure bone mineral density, the X-ray-based photoacoustic technology is more sensitive to the elasticity and other chemical components of the bone (such as collagen, etc.), and the bone elasticity calculation accuracy is higher.

[0039] 2. Large measurement depth: The bone elasticity measurement device and method of the present invention use X-rays to irradiate the bone to be measured. Compared with lasers, X-rays are less scattered in biological tissues and have sufficient penetration depth in bone tissues. Therefore, X-rays can stimulate photoacoustic signals in bone tissues deep in the human body. Photoacoustic technology based on X-rays can be used to diagnose bone tissues deep in the human body. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0040] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of the structure of the bone elasticity measuring device in the present invention.

[0041] The numbers in the figure show:

[0042] 1. Computer, 2. Control circuit, 3. X-ray generator, 4. Bone to be measured, 5. Ultrasonic transducer, 6. Signal amplifier, 7. Analog-to-digital converter. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0043] The following will be combined with the drawings in the embodiments of the present invention to clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are part of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without creative work should fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0044] A bone elasticity measuring device based on X-ray photoacoustic effect is used to measure the bone elasticity of a bone 4 to be measured, and its structure is as follows Figure 1 As shown, the bone elasticity measuring device includes a computer 1, an X-ray generator 3 and an ultrasonic transducer 5;

[0045] An X-ray generator 3, which is used to receive the control of the computer 1 and emit X-rays to the bone 4 to be measured;

[0046] Ultrasonic transducer 5, used to receive the ultrasonic signal generated by the bone to be measured 4 due to the photoacoustic effect, and send it to computer 1;

[0047] The computer 1 controls the X-ray generator 3 to emit X-rays to the bone 4 to be measured, receives the ultrasonic signal generated by the photoacoustic effect through the ultrasonic transducer 5, and stores it in the computer for calculating the bone elasticity.

[0048] The bone elasticity measuring device in this embodiment is provided with a control circuit 2, the input end of which is connected to a computer 1, and the output end of which is connected to an X-ray generator 3, for controlling the X-ray generator 3 to emit X-rays. A signal amplifier 6 and an analog-to-digital converter 7 are also provided, the output end of the ultrasonic transducer 5 is connected to the input end of the signal amplifier 6, the output end of the signal amplifier 6 is connected to the input end of the analog-to-digital converter 7, and the output end of the analog-to-digital converter 7 is connected to the computer 1.

[0049] When bone tissue is irradiated by pulsed X-rays, the photoacoustic effect occurs, generating an ultrasonic signal. This ultrasonic acoustic signal mainly depends on: the bone properties (bone composition and structure) in the laser irradiation area, the characteristics of the emitted laser (spectrum, energy, etc.), the ultrasonic propagation coupling effect on the ultrasonic conduction path, and the ultrasonic transducer signal receiving characteristics. The latter three influencing factors can be accurately measured and compensated. Therefore, analyzing the signal characteristics collected by the ultrasonic transducer can reflect information such as the elasticity and structure of bone tissue.

[0050] The computer 1 is embedded with an executable program for calculating bone elasticity, specifically:

[0051] First, obtain the ultrasonic signal at a certain position of the bone to be measured and calculate its spectrum S B ,

[0052] Then, the ultrasonic signal of the standard phantom with elastic modulus E0 is obtained, and its spectrum S0 is calculated.

[0053] Finally, calculate the elasticity E of the bone to be measured B .

[0054] Bone elasticity B The calculation method is:

[0055]

[0056] Among them, k1, k2 and k3 are coefficients obtained by multivariate linear analysis.

[0057] This embodiment also relates to a bone elasticity measurement method based on X-ray photoacoustic effect, comprising:

[0058] Step 1: The computer controls the X-ray generator to emit short pulse X-rays, which are then irradiated on the bone to be measured.

[0059] Step 2: The ultrasonic transducer receives the ultrasonic signal generated by the photoacoustic effect of the bone to be measured and inputs it into the computer.

[0060] Step 3: The computer calculates the bone elasticity and outputs it.

[0061] Step 1 is as follows:

[0062] The computer controls the X-ray generator to emit short pulse X-rays through the control line.

[0063] Step 2 is as follows:

[0064] After the ultrasonic transducer receives the ultrasonic signal generated by the photoacoustic effect of the bone to be measured, it is processed by the signal amplifier and analog-to-digital converter and then input into the computer.

[0065] Step 3 is as follows:

[0066] The computer calculates bone elasticity by executing the following executable program:

[0067] First, obtain the ultrasonic signal at a certain position of the bone to be measured and calculate its spectrum S B ,

[0068] Then, the ultrasonic signal of the standard phantom with elastic modulus E0 is obtained, and its spectrum S0 is calculated.

[0069] Finally, calculate the elasticity E of the bone to be measured B ,

[0070]

[0071] Among them, k1, k2 and k3 are coefficients obtained by multivariate linear analysis.

[0072] The purpose of the present invention is to provide a non-invasive diagnosis system for bone elasticity and health status based on the X-ray photoacoustic effect. The characteristics and advantages of the present invention are that it can not only be used alone to measure bone elasticity, but also can upgrade the functions of existing X-ray bone densitometers. The functional upgrade can be completed by adding ultrasonic transducers, signal receiving and processing circuits, so that the existing X-ray bone densitometer can not only measure BMD, but also provide information such as bone elasticity, which is conducive to comprehensive and accurate evaluation of bone health status.

[0073] The above is only a specific embodiment of the present invention, but the protection scope of the present invention is not limited thereto. Any technician familiar with the technical field can easily think of various equivalent modifications or replacements within the technical scope disclosed by the present invention, and these modifications or replacements should be included in the protection scope of the present invention. Therefore, the protection scope of the present invention shall be based on the protection scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A bone elasticity measuring device based on X-ray photoacoustic effect, used to measure the bone elasticity of a bone (4) to be measured, characterized in that: The bone elasticity measuring device comprises a computer (1), an X-ray generator (3) and an ultrasonic transducer (5); An X-ray generator (3) is used to receive control from the computer (1) and emit X-rays to the bone (4) to be measured; An ultrasonic transducer (5) is used to receive an ultrasonic signal generated by the bone to be measured (4) due to the photoacoustic effect, and send it to a computer (1); The computer (1) controls the X-ray generator (3) to emit X-rays to the bone to be measured (4), receives the ultrasonic signal generated by the photoacoustic effect through the ultrasonic transducer (5), and stores the signal in the computer for calculating the bone elasticity; The computer (1) is embedded with an executable program for calculating bone elasticity, specifically: First, obtain the ultrasonic signal at a certain position of the bone to be measured and calculate its spectrum S B ; Then, the ultrasonic signal of the standard phantom with elastic modulus E0 is obtained, and its spectrum S0 is calculated; Finally, calculate the elasticity E of the bone to be measured B ; The bone elasticity E B The calculation method is: Among them, k1, k2 and k3 are coefficients.

2. The bone elasticity measuring device based on X-ray photoacoustic effect according to claim 1, characterized in that: The bone elasticity measuring device is provided with a control circuit (2), the input end of the control circuit is connected to a computer (1), and the output end of the control circuit is connected to an X-ray generator (3), and is used to control the X-ray generator (3) to emit X-rays.

3. The bone elasticity measuring device based on X-ray photoacoustic effect according to claim 1, characterized in that: The bone elasticity measuring device further comprises a signal amplifier (6) and an analog-to-digital converter (7); the output end of the ultrasonic transducer (5) is connected to the input end of the signal amplifier (6); the output end of the signal amplifier (6) is connected to the input end of the analog-to-digital converter (7); and the output end of the analog-to-digital converter (7) is connected to the computer (1).

4. The bone elasticity measuring device based on X-ray photoacoustic effect according to claim 1, characterized in that: The coefficients k1, k2 and k3 are obtained by multivariate linear analysis.

5. A method for measuring bone elasticity based on X-ray photoacoustic effect for the bone elasticity measuring device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that: The bone elasticity measurement method comprises: Step 1: The computer controls the X-ray generator to emit short pulse X-rays, which are irradiated on the bone to be measured; Step 2: The ultrasonic transducer receives the ultrasonic signal generated by the photoacoustic effect of the bone to be measured and inputs it into the computer; Step 3: The computer calculates the bone elasticity and outputs it.

6. The method for measuring bone elasticity based on X-ray photoacoustic effect according to claim 5, characterized in that: The step 1 is specifically as follows: The computer controls the X-ray generator to emit short pulse X-rays through the control line.

7. The method for measuring bone elasticity based on X-ray photoacoustic effect according to claim 5, characterized in that: The step 2 is specifically as follows: After the ultrasonic transducer receives the ultrasonic signal generated by the photoacoustic effect of the bone to be measured, it is processed by the signal amplifier and analog-to-digital converter and then input into the computer.

8. The method for measuring bone elasticity based on X-ray photoacoustic effect according to claim 5, characterized in that: The step 3 is specifically as follows: The computer calculates bone elasticity by executing the following executable program: First, obtain the ultrasonic signal at a certain position of the bone to be measured and calculate its spectrum S B ; Then, the ultrasonic signal of the standard phantom with elastic modulus E0 is obtained, and its spectrum S0 is calculated; Finally, calculate the elasticity E of the bone to be measured B ; Among them, k1, k2 and k3 are coefficients obtained by multivariate linear analysis.

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