摘要:
A method for the assessment of various properties of bone is provided. The method includes applying a pair of ultrasound transducers to skin on opposite sides of the bone and generating an ultrasound signal and directing the signal through both the bone to obtain a bone output signal. The method further includes establishing a set of parameters associated with the bone output signal and then further processing the parameters in order to obtain the desired bone property. Two novel parameters are also disclosed, namely the net time delay (NTD) and mean time duration (MTD) parameters. An apparatus for the assessment of various properties of bone is also provided. The apparatus includes a pair of ultrasound transducers which may be single-element transducers or array transducers in any combination. The apparatus further includes various computer hardware components and computer software for generating and directing the ultrasound signal, establishing the parameter set and performing the processing. In addition, an apparatus that is battery powered, handheld, and portable and operates in real time is also provided.
摘要:
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 single transducer is positioned similarly on the forearm, operating in pulse-echo mode.
摘要:
A system for transmitting signals between a body of a living being and a virtual reality space includes a wearable device configured to be worn on the body. The device provides haptic feedback to the body indicative of interactions between a virtual body and one or more virtual objects within the virtual reality space. The device includes a base affixed to the body, a container supported on the base, and a flow control device that controls flow of a mass between the container and a tank. A controller generates a flow control signal to control the flow control device responsive to an interaction between the virtual body and a virtual object within the virtual reality space. The container assumes an expanded state in which the container assumes a defined shape when the mass is present in the container and a contracted state in the absence of the mass.
摘要:
A system for transmitting signals between a body of a living being and a virtual reality space includes a mount and a base configured to be affixed to respective first and second bony members of the body on a distal side and a proximal side, respectively, of a joint. An elongate, flexible strip is affixed at a first end to the mount and at a second end to the base. A sensor disposed on the base is configured to generate a displacement signal indicative of displacement of the strip in response to movement of the first bony member relative to the second bony member. The system further includes a display and a controller configured to receive the displacement signal and to control movement of a virtual representation of the body on the display responsive to the displacement signal and feedback of interaction in the virtual space to the living being.
摘要:
A method and apparatus for non-invasive and quantitative assessment of the status of a lumbar vertebral body in a living being for at least one of several quantities (e.g., bone-mineral density, bone mass, etc.) is provided. The method includes the steps of acoustically coupling first and second transducers to nearby skin on opposite sides of a torso of the living being and generating an ultrasound signal and directing the ultrasound signal from the first transducer to the second transducer through the torso. At least a portion of the ultrasound signal passes through the lumbar vertebral body and the second transducer generates an output signal responsive to receipt of the ultrasound signal. The method further includes the step of processing the output signal to obtain an estimate of the at least one quantity.
摘要:
An invention is disclosed for locating a region of interest in the calcaneus. A pair of ultrasound transducers are positioned on the medial and lateral sides of the heel, respectively. The positioning is based on a size of a portion of the body of a subject upon whom the ultrasound assessment of the calcaneus is to be made. In a presently preferred embodiment, the length of the foot from the back to the head of the first metatarsal is used in conjunction with a proportionality constant and an angle, to position the pair of transducers. The positioning so obtained facilitates (i) reproducible measurements and (ii) comparisons of the results obtained in one person with another, because relatively analogous portions of the highly heterogeneous calcanei are assessed in both. In an alternative embodiment, a single transducer is positioned similarly on the heel, operating in pulse-echo mode.
摘要:
A system for monitoring or controlling a remote programmable device is provided. The system includes a server configured for connection to the programmable device and a local computing device. The server includes code that establishes a data structure accessible by both devices and including a plurality of user configurable records. The server receives instructions from the local device to configure each record as an input, output or input/output channel corresponding to input, output or input/output parameters of the programmable device and to define input values for the input channels and input/output channels. The server transmits the input values and input/output values to the programmable device and receives output values and input/output values from the programmable device for transmission to the local computing device.
摘要:
An invention is disclosed for locating a region of interest in the calcaneus. A pair of ultrasound transducers are positioned on the medial and lateral sides of the heel, respectively. The positioning is based on a size of a portion of the body of a subject upon whom the ultrasound assessment of the calcaneus is to be made. In a presently preferred embodiment, the length of the foot from the back to the head of the first metatarsal is used in conjunction with a proportionality constant and an angle, to position the pair of transducers. The positioning so obtained facilitates (i) reproducible measurements and (ii) comparisons of the results obtained in one person with another, because relatively analogous portions of the highly heterogeneous calcanei are assessed in both. In an alternative embodiment, a single transducer is positioned similarly on the heel, operating in pulse-echo mode.
摘要:
A method for the assessment of various properties of bone is provided. The method includes applying a pair of ultrasound transducers to skin on opposite sides of the bone and generating an ultrasound signal and directing the signal through both the bone to obtain a bone output signal. The method further includes establishing a set of parameters associated with the bone output signal and then further processing the parameters in order to obtain the desired bone property. Two novel parameters are also disclosed, namely the net time delay (NTD) and mean time duration (MTD) parameters. An apparatus for the assessment of various properties of bone is also provided. The apparatus includes a pair of ultrasound transducers which may be single-element transducers or array transducers in any combination. The apparatus further includes various computer hardware components and computer software for generating and directing the ultrasound signal, establishing the parameter set and performing the processing. In addition, an apparatus that is battery powered, handheld, and portable and operates in real time is also provided.
摘要:
An invention is disclosed for locating a region of interest in the calcaneus. A pair of ultrasound transducers are positioned on the medial and lateral sides of the heel, respectively. The positioning is based on a size of a portion of the body of a subject upon whom the ultrasound assessment of the calcaneus is to be made. In a presently preferred embodiment, the length of the foot from the back to the head of the first metatarsal is used in conjunction with a proportionality constant and an angle, to position the pair of transducers. The positioning so obtained facilitates (i) reproducible measurements and (ii) comparisons of the results obtained in one person with another, because relatively analogous portions of the highly heterogeneous calcanei are assessed in both. In an alternative embodiment, a single transducer is positioned similarly on the heel, operating in pulse-echo mode.