Bone Vibration Analysis for Osteoporosis Diagnosis
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for assessing dynamic bone quality, such as dual energy x-ray absorptiometry, are costly and prone to inaccuracies due to interference from surrounding tissue, making it difficult to accurately determine the damping ratio of the tibia, which is crucial for diagnosing osteoporosis and other bone diseases.
Innovation Solution
A system that induces bone vibrations in the range of 400 Hz to 1000 Hz using a force input device and sensors to measure modal vibration responses, decoupling the tibia from surrounding tissue interference, allowing for accurate analysis of damping ratios.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If conventional methods (heel strike against force pad) are used to assess dynamic bone quality, then the procedure is simple and economical, but the measurement precision deteriorates due to interference from surrounding tissue vibration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies mechanical vibration by inducing vibrations in the tibia at specific resonance frequencies (400-1000 Hz) using an impactor. This high-frequency vibration approach excites the bone structure to resonate at its natural frequencies, allowing measurement of damping characteristics while the bone is mechanically isolated from surrounding soft tissue, thereby improving measurement precision without sacrificing procedural simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the frequency parameter from conventional low-frequency heel strike (10-100 Hz) to high-frequency impact (400-1000 Hz). This parameter change shifts the vibration regime to a range where the tibia's resonant modes are excited, creating a measurement condition where bone vibration is decoupled from surrounding tissue, thus resolving the contradiction between measurement accuracy and procedural simplicity
2Ease of operation
If low frequency vibration (10-100 Hz) is used to induce bone vibration, then the procedure is easier to perform, but the measurement precision deteriorates due to coupling with surrounding tissue
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs mechanical vibration at elevated frequencies (400-1000 Hz) to excite the tibia's resonant modes. This approach creates a decoupling effect where the bone vibrates independently from surrounding soft tissue, eliminating the measurement interference that plagues low-frequency methods while maintaining operational simplicity through direct impact
Solution Approach 2:
The patent fundamentally changes the frequency parameter from the conventional 10-100 Hz range to 400-1000 Hz. This parameter transformation shifts the system from a regime where soft tissue coupling dominates to one where the bone's intrinsic vibrational characteristics can be measured independently, thereby improving measurement precision without complicating the assessment procedure
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system provides improved, non-invasive, and economical assessment of dynamic bone quality by eliminating tissue interference, enabling more accurate comparison to healthy standards for diagnosing bone health.
Implementation Method 1
impacting a bone to induce vibration in multiple modes having a resonance frequency in a range of about 400 Hz to about 1000 Hz
Implementation Method 2
The damping ratio may be compared to a reference value representing healthy individuals to assess the dynamic bone quality
Data Source
AI summary
A method of determining a condition of bone structure in a living organism includes impacting a bone to induce vibration in multiple modes having a resonance frequency in a range of about 400 Hz to about 1000 Hz, detecting at least one modal vibration response of the bone for the at least one mode of vibration, and analyzing the at least one modal vibration response to determine a modal vibration characteristic of the bone. A system for determining a condition of bone structure in a living organism includes a force input device configured to impact a bone to induce vibration having a resonance frequency of about 400 Hz to about 1000 Hz, at least one sensor configured to sense at least one modal vibration response, and a computer configured to collect modal vibration response data and analyze the modal vibration response data to determine a vibration characteristic of the bone.