Ultrasonic bone assessment apparatus with adjustable ulna styloid support and method
US9039616B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 11, 2010 |
| Grant date | May 26, 2015 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 26, 2030 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61B8/4209
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An invention is disclosed for locating a region of interest (ROI) in the radius. A method and apparatus are disclosed that use a pair of ultrasound transducers for ultrasound assessment of various properties of bone. The invention includes positioning the transducers on the anterior-posterior (dorsal and ventral) sides of a forearm of an individual. The positioning is based on the forearm length, and a selected percentage of this length at which the ROI is desired. In a presently preferred embodiment of the invention, the ROI is defined as the ⅓rd location. An arm is placed in an ultrasound fixture which has a first surface, a second surface with a raised portion against which the ulna styloid process is placed, and a third surface on which the elbow is placed. The distance between the raised portion of the second surface and the centerlines of the pair of ultrasound transducers is adjustable. The positioning so obtained leads to the ability to make both (i) reproducible measurements and (ii) to be able to compare the results obtained in one person with another, because relatively analogous portions of the radii are assessed in both. In an alternative embodiment of the invention, a…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.