Ultrasound Image Processing for Pennation Angle Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current non-invasive methods for determining pennation angle and fascicle length are not accurate, making it difficult for athletes, medical professionals, and fitness enthusiasts to assess muscle characteristics effectively.
Innovation Solution
An ultrasound scan image is processed using image processing techniques such as blurring, thresholding, and morphing to distinguish muscle fibers from tendons, allowing for the determination of pennation angle and fascicle length without invasive procedures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If dissection is used to determine pennation angle and fascicle length, then measurement accuracy is improved, but the method becomes invasive and infeasible for living human beings
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses ultrasound imaging to create a visual copy of the muscle tissue structure, allowing measurement of pennation angle and fascicle length from the image rather than requiring physical dissection. The image processing techniques enhance this copy to extract accurate measurements non-invasively
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical dissection method with an acoustic imaging method (ultrasound). The ultrasound waves penetrate the tissue and reflect back to form images, substituting the need for physical cutting and direct observation with a non-contact acoustic field approach
2Ease of operation
If non-invasive methods are used to determine pennation angle and fascicle length, then feasibility for living human beings is improved, but measurement accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary image processing actions (filtering, enhancement, noise reduction) to the ultrasound image before measurement. This preprocessing prepares the image data to improve measurement accuracy from the non-invasive ultrasound source
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces image processing algorithms as an intermediary between the raw ultrasound data and the final measurement. This intermediary layer extracts and enhances the relevant structural information to achieve accurate measurements without direct tissue contact
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
This method provides accurate and non-invasive measurements of pennation angle and fascicle length, enabling better assessment of muscle characteristics for training and medical evaluation.
Implementation Method 1
receive an ultrasound scan image of at least a portion of a skin layer as disposed above one or more additional tissue layers
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a non-invasive system and method of determining pennation angle and/or fascicle length based on image processing. An ultrasound scan image is processed to facilitate distinguishing of muscle fiber and tendon. The processed ultrasound scan image is then analyzed. The pennation angle and/or fascicle length is determined based on the analysis. An example method includes receiving an ultrasound scan image of at least a portion of a skin layer as disposed above one or more additional tissue layers, the image provided by a plurality of pixels. The method continues by introducing noise into the pixels of the image and thresholding the pixels of the image to provide a binary image having a plurality of structural elements of different sizes. The method continues with morphing the structural elements of the binary image to remove small structural elements and connect large structural elements. With this resulting image, the method distinguishes muscle fiber and tendon from remaining elements and determines the pennation angle and/or the fascicle length from the muscle fiber and the tendon. Associated apparatuses and computer program products are also disclosed.