An Ultrasound Biomicroscopic and Water Jet Ultrasound Indentation Method for Detecting the Degenerative Changes of Articular Cartilage in a Rabbit Model of Progressive Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is a common joint disease affecting a large population especially the elderly where cartilage degeneration is one of its hallmark symptoms. There is a need to develop new devices and instruments for the early detection and treatment of cartilage degeneration. In this study, we describe the development of a miniaturized water-jet ultrasound indentation probe for this purpose. To evaluate the system, we applied it to characterize the degeneration of articular cartilage with the measurement of its morphologic, acoustic, and mechanical properties, using the enzymatic digestions of cartilage as a model of OA. Fifty cartilage samples were tested with 10 of them used for the reproducibility study and the other 40 for collagenase and trypsin digestions. Thickness, integrated reflection coefficient (IRC), effective stiffness, and energy dissipation ratio (EDR) were used to quantify the change of articular cartilage before and after degeneration. The measurement reproducibility as represented by the standardized coefficient of variation (SCV) was 2.6%, 10.2%, 11.5%, and 12.8% for thickness, IRC, stiffness, and EDR, respectively. A significant change of IRC, stiffness, and EDR was detected after degeneration by the designed probe (p<0.05). There was also a significant difference of IRC, stiffness, and EDR between trypsin and collagenase digestions (p<0.001). In conclusion, a miniaturized water-jet ultrasound indentation probe has been designed, which has been successfully used to detect and differentiate cartilage degeneration simulated by enzymatic digestions. This probe, with future development, can be potentially suitable for quantitative assessment of cartilage degeneration with an arthroscopic operation.

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Tissue Modification of the Lateral Compartment of the Tibio-Femoral Joint Following In Vivo Varus Loading in the Rat

Journal of Biomechanical Engineering ◽

10.1115/1.4007453 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 134 (10) ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

M. L. Roemhildt ◽

B. D. Beynnon ◽

M. Gardner-Morse ◽

K. Anderson ◽

G. J. Badger

Keyword(s):

Articular Cartilage ◽

Subchondral Bone ◽

Compressive Loading ◽

Compressive Load ◽

Lateral Compartment ◽

Peripheral Region ◽

Degenerative Changes ◽

Medial Compartment ◽

Compressive Loads

This study describes the first application of a varus loading device (VLD) to the rat hind limb to study the role of sustained altered compressive loading and its relationship to the initiation of degenerative changes to the tibio-femoral joint. The VLD applies decreased compressive load to the lateral compartment and increased compressive load to the medial compartment of the tibio-femoral joint in a controlled manner. Mature rats were randomized into one of three groups: unoperated control, 0% (sham), or 80% body weight (BW). Devices were attached to an animal’s leg to deliver altered loads of 0% and 80% BW to the experimental knee for 12 weeks. Compartment-specific material properties of the tibial cartilage and subchondral bone were determined using indentation tests. Articular cartilage, calcified cartilage, and subchondral bone thicknesses, articular cartilage cellularity, and degeneration score were determined histologically. Joint tissues were sensitive to 12 weeks of decreased compressive loading in the lateral compartment with articular cartilage thickness decreased in the peripheral region, subchondral bone thickness increased, and cellularity of the midline region decreased in the 80% BW group as compared to the 0% BW group. The medial compartment revealed trends for diminished cellularity and aggregate modulus with increased loading. The rat-VLD model provides a new system to evaluate altered quantified levels of chronic in vivo loading without disruption of the joint capsule while maintaining full use of the knee. These results reveal a greater sensitivity of tissue parameters to decreased loading versus increased loading of 80% BW for 12 weeks in the rat. This model will allow future mechanistic studies that focus on the initiation and progression of degenerative changes with increased exposure in both magnitude and time to altered compressive loads.

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Noncontact Evaluation of Articular Cartilage Degeneration Using a Novel Ultrasound Water Jet Indentation System

Annals of Biomedical Engineering ◽

10.1007/s10439-008-9602-0 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 37 (1) ◽

pp. 164-175 ◽

Cited By ~ 19

Author(s):

M.-H. Lu ◽

Y. P. Zheng ◽

Q.-H. Huang ◽

C. Ling ◽

Q. Wang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Articular Cartilage ◽

Cartilage Degeneration ◽

Water Jet ◽

Articular Cartilage Degeneration

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Estimation of differences in selected indices of vibroacoustic signals between healthy and osteoarthritic patellofemoral joints as a potential non-invasive diagnostic tool

Journal of Physics Conference Series ◽

10.1088/1742-6596/2130/1/012009 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 2130 (1) ◽

pp. 012009

Author(s):

R Karpiński ◽

P Krakowski ◽

J Jonak ◽

A Machrowska ◽

M Maciejewski ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Articular Cartilage ◽

Invasive Procedure ◽

Superficial Layer ◽

Degenerative Changes ◽

Joint Disease ◽

Control Group ◽

Kinetic Chain ◽

Non Invasive ◽

Joint Surfaces ◽

Vibroacoustic Signals

Abstract Osteoarthritis (OA) is currently the most generic form of joint disease. It is a complex process in which degenerative changes occur in the articular cartilage [AC], subchondral bone, and synovial membrane and can lead to permanent joint failure. The primary and most commonly used method of diagnosing degenerative changes is classic radiography. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may be used to assess the extent of damage to joint surfaces, but this method is limited by the availability of specialised equipment and the excessive cost of the examination. Arthroscopy, an invasive procedure, is considered the “gold standard” in joint diagnosis. The occurrence of degenerative changes is closely related to the friction and lubrication processes within the joint. The main causes of osteoarthritis are a change or lack of synovial fluid, deformation of the joint bones, local damage to the articular cartilage, and a change in the mechanical properties of the articular cartilage due to water loss from the damaged superficial layer. An alternative, non-invasive method that allows for a delicate assessment of the condition of moving joints is vibroarthrography (VAG). The analysis of vibroacoustic signals generated by moving joint surfaces has an immense potential in the non-invasive assessment of the degree of damage to articular cartilage, meniscus and ligaments and the general diagnosis of degenerative diseases. The purpose of this study is to analyse and statistically compare the basic characteristics of vibroacoustic signals recorded with a CM-01B contact microphone placed on the patella for motion in the 90°–0°–90° range in a closed kinetic chain (CKC) in a control group (HC) and a group of patients diagnosed with osteoarthritis (OA), qualified for the knee alloplasty.

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