Non-invasive method of physiologic vibration quantification
US6234975A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 4, 2000 |
| Grant date | May 22, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 4, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61H1/005
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
The present disclosure describes a method of determining the onset of osteoporosis by measuring the vibrational response of the musculoskeletal system. Risk of fracture of bones due to osteoporosis is mainly determined by three risk factors: muscle strength, bone mass, and postural stability. Because these three risk factors for fractures are interrelated and dependent on muscle function, they can be determined by quantifying physiologic vibration non-invasively using a low-mass accelerometer placed at an appropriate muscle belly. Muscle vibrations are produced by force fluctuations of unfused motor units during contraction and are expressed by the lateral expansion of muscle fibers. Muscle vibrational characteristics span a broad (0-100 Hz) frequency regime, directly reflecting the force provided by the muscle fibers being utilized and the nature of the dynamic mechanical milieu experienced by the skeleton during postural or locomotory muscle activity. In addition vibrational information below 5 Hz has been shown to correspond to postural instability. Also, a specific frequency component of the muscle vibration spectrum (25-50 Hz) has now been shown to represent the contribution o…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.