Arthroscopic cartilage evaluator and method for using the same
AssigneeBoard of Regents, The University of Texas System
InventorsKyriacos Athanasiou, George Constantinides, Dan R. Lanctot
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An arthroscopic cartilage evaluator for determining the Index of Structural Integrity of articular cartilage. This computer-based system measures deformation or reaction force of articular cartilage and processes that information for closed loop control of a testing tip and allows the measurement of stress relaxation behavior or creep behavior in vivo and in situ. This evaluator also allows the calculation of the tissue's material properties.
Claims45
A device for measuring the response of cartilage to indentation in vivo comprising:
- a hand-held component insertable through an incision to a position proximate the cartilage, said component comprising a loading system and an alignment system, said loading system comprising a testing tip for indenting the cartilage during use, and a means for moving the testing tip relative to the alignment system a set displacement to cause a predetermined amount of indentation into the cartilage, said alignment system adapted to align the testing tip substantially perpendicular to the surface of cartilage during use;
- and
- a response system for measuring the force versus time response of the cartilage to said set displacement and indentation during use.
A device for measuring the response of cartilage to indentation in vivo, comprising:
- a hand-held component insertable through an incision to a position proximate the cartilage, said component comprising a loading system and an alignment system, said loading system comprising a testing tip for indenting the cartilage during use, and means for applying a predetermined continuous force to the testing tip to cause displacement of the testing tip relative to the alignment system and indentation of the testing tip into the cartilage, said alignment system adapted to align the testing tip substantially perpendicular to the surface of cartilage during use;
- and
- a response system for measuring the displacement versus time response of the cartilage to said predetermined force causing said indentation during use.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.