MR Spectroscopy Signal Processing for Objective Disc Pain Diagnosis

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current diagnostic methods for differentiating painful and non-painful intervertebral discs in the context of chronic low back pain, such as MRI and provocative discography, are invasive, subjective, and lack objectivity, leading to high false-positive rates and significant patient morbidity.

Innovation Solution

A magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) system and method that includes a DDD-MRS pulse sequence, signal processor, and diagnostic processor to generate, acquire, and process MRS spectra from intervertebral discs, employing channel selection, phase and frequency correction, frame editing, and apodization to improve signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) for accurate diagnosis.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If provocative discography is used to differentiate painful and non-painful discs, then diagnostic accuracy is improved, but patient morbidity and invasiveness increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvediagnostic accuracyVSAvoidpatient morbidity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical invasive needle insertion and pressure application of provocative discography with a non-invasive magnetic resonance spectroscopy system that uses electromagnetic fields to detect chemical metabolites in intervertebral discs, eliminating physical trauma while maintaining diagnostic capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces magnetic resonance spectroscopy as an intermediary diagnostic method between standard MRI and provocative discography, using chemical metabolite detection as a mediator to identify painful discs without requiring invasive mechanical stimulation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If provocative discography is used to differentiate painful and non-painful discs, then diagnostic accuracy is improved, but subjectivity and false-positive rates increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvediagnostic accuracyVSAvoidfalse-positive rate

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces subjective patient-reported pain responses during discography with objective quantitative spectroscopic measurements of chemical metabolites (lactate, alanine, proteoglycan) that provide reliable, standardized diagnostic criteria without observer or patient subjectivity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent shifts from measuring subjective pain intensity parameters during discography to measuring objective chemical concentration parameters (metabolite ratios) through spectroscopy, providing standardized, quantifiable diagnostic markers that reduce false-positive rates

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Adaptability or versatility

If provocative discography is used to differentiate painful and non-painful discs, then diagnostic capability is improved, but invasiveness and procedure complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvediagnostic capabilityVSAvoidprocedure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex invasive mechanical discography equipment and multi-step procedural protocols with a streamlined non-invasive MR spectroscopy system that uses standard MRI infrastructure and automated spectroscopic analysis to achieve the same diagnostic capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 MRS system provides a non-invasive, objective, and cost-effective means to differentiate painful from non-painful discs, reducing false positives and improving diagnostic accuracy, thereby guiding targeted treatments for lumbar degenerative disc disease.

Implementation Method 1

magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) system and method that includes a DDD-MRS pulse sequence, signal processor, and diagnostic processor to generate, acquire, and process MRS spectra from intervertebral discs

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectNuclear magnetic resonance:

Data Source

PatentUS12369813B2MR spectroscopy system and method

Publication Date: 2025.07.29 ACLARION INC

AI summary

An MR Spectroscopy (MRS) system and approach is provided for diagnosing painful and non-painful discs in chronic, severe low back pain patients (DDD-MRS). A DDD-MRS pulse sequence generates and acquires DDD-MRS spectra within intervertebral disc nuclei for later signal processing and diagnostic analysis. An interfacing DDD-MRS signal processor receives output signals of the DDD-MRS spectra acquired and is configured to optimize signal-to-noise ratio by an automated system that selectively conducts optimal channel selection, phase and frequency correction, and frame editing as appropriate for a given acquisition series. A diagnostic processor calculates a diagnostic value for the disc based upon a weighted factor set of criteria that uses MRS data extracted from the acquired and processed MRS spectra for multiple chemicals that have been correlated to painful vs. non-painful discs. A display provides an indication of results for analyzed discs as an overlay onto a MRI image of the lumbar spine.