Knee Acoustic Matching Device for Ultrasonic Cartilage Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current diagnostic methods for gonarthrosis, such as ultrasound and MRI, are either invasive or costly and not suitable for mass examinations, as they fail to accurately measure the thickness and three-dimensional shape of knee cartilage effectively.
Innovation Solution
An acoustic matching device with a water bag and support frame is used to facilitate the movement of an ultrasonic probe along the knee cap, providing superior acoustic matching and allowing for non-invasive, precise measurement of cartilage thickness and shape.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If an in-joint probe is inserted into the knee joint for ultrasound measurement, then cartilage thickness can be measured, but the system becomes invasive and difficult to use for mass examinations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an acoustic matching device as an intermediary component between the ultrasonic probe and the knee joint. This device includes a water-filled flexible bag that conforms to the knee cap surface, providing acoustic coupling without requiring probe insertion into the joint. The intermediary device enables non-invasive measurement while maintaining measurement capability, thus resolving the contradiction between measurement precision and ease of operation.
2Measurement precision
If MRI is used for cartilage imaging, then non-invasive measurement of cartilage thickness is achieved, but the cost and measurement time become prohibitively high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the complex MRI system with a simpler ultrasonic measurement system. By using ultrasound waves transmitted through the acoustic matching device, the system achieves cartilage thickness measurement without requiring expensive MRI equipment or lengthy scanning procedures. This substitution maintains measurement capability while dramatically reducing time and cost, resolving the contradiction between measurement precision and loss of time.
3Loss of information
If the ultrasonic probe is moved along the knee cap for scanning, then three-dimensional cartilage shape can be obtained, but the acoustic matching device must adapt to the uneven knee surface
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a flexible water-filled bag as the acoustic matching device. The flexible material allows the device to conform to the uneven surface of the knee cap, ensuring proper acoustic coupling across the curved surface. This flexibility enables the ultrasonic probe to scan along the knee cap while maintaining contact, thus obtaining three-dimensional cartilage shape information without requiring complex rigid structures, resolving the contradiction between information completeness and device complexity.
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 device enables effective acoustic matching between the ultrasonic probe and the knee cap, allowing for accurate, non-invasive, and efficient measurement of knee cartilage thickness and shape, suitable for both diagnostic and preventive measures.
Implementation Method 1
A water bag 64 containing water is employed as an acoustic matching layer
Data Source
AI summary
An acoustic matching device has a water bag (64) that contains water and a water bag support frame (66) that sandwiches and supports the water bag on the left and right sides of the knee and curves along the knee cap. The water bag becomes a plate shape curved along the shape of the water bag support frame, which touches the knee cap and fits the unevenness of the knee. When an ultrasonic probe is moved along the knee cap, the acoustic matching between the knee cap and the ultrasonic probe is obtained.