Abstract
Patients with osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee are increasing with the progress of aging society in recent years. Method of diagnosing OA is performed using images obtained from MRI or X-ray.The purpose of research is that, using estimate degeneration of articular cartilage, quantitative and non-invasive estimation method for cartilage degeneration was proposed. Reflected echo from articular cartilage through skin is affected by attenuation of the skin. There are individual differences in the effects of attenuation. Wes developed the device with the attitude angle sensor and the ultrasonic probe. This devise can simultaneously acquire the signal intensity and attitude angle. Gaussian curve was fit to the signal intensity and angular curve. From the fit Gaussian curve, the kurtosis and Angle at Half Maximum (AHM) were calculated. Degeneration was simulated using the collagenase enzyme treatment. As the enzyme treatment time increase, AHM increases and kurtosis decreases. Comparing to no-treated cartilage. In AHM, significant differences in the all treatment time. In kurtosis, significant differ were found in 2h, 3h, 4h. The relationship as described above that was not affected by the thickness of the skin.
