Method and apparatus for diagnosing joints

A method for classifying degenerative joint disease conditions, said method comprising the steps of:

• a) detecting a first set of vibration patterns from one or more joints, the joints having a known condition;
• b) using said first set of vibration patterns and said known joint conditions to train an adaptive interpreter to produce an output indicating particular known degenerative joint disease conditions in response to particular vibration patterns;
• c) detecting a second set of vibration patterns from a subject joint;
• and
• d) transmitting said second set of vibration patterns to said adaptive interpreter wherein said adaptive interpreter generates an output indicating the presence of one or more of said known degenerative joint disease conditions in said subject joint.

A system for classifying a trauma induced joint condition said system comprising:

• a) sensor means for detecting a vibration pattern from the joint;
• b) preprocessor means for providing a predetermined set of data parameters descriptive of the vibration pattern;
• and
• c) trainable adaptive interpreter means for receiving said data parameters as input and producing an output which indicates at least one classification of the trauma induced condition of said joint.

A system for classifying joint conditions in a load bearing joint, the system comprising:

• a) sensor means for detecting a vibration pattern from the joint;
• b) preprocessor means for providing a predetermined set of data parameters descriptive of the vibration pattern;
• and
• c) trainable adaptive interpreter means for receiving said data parameters as input and producing an output which indicates at least one classification of the condition of said joint.

A system for classifying degenerative joint disease conditions, the system comprising:

• a) sensor means of detecting a vibration pattern from the joint;
• b) means for receiving non-vibrational diagnostic information relating to said joint;
• c) preprocessor means for providing a predetermined set of data parameters descriptive of the vibration pattern and said diagnostic information;
• and
• d) trainable adaptive interpreter means for receiving said data parameters as input and producing an output which indicates at least one classification of the degenerative disease condition of said joint.