KR20070111147A - Reflected phalange bone density measuring apparatus using ultrasonic - Google Patents

Abstract

A reflection-type phalange bone density measuring apparatus using an ultrasonic wave is provided to improve accuracy in a measuring result by using an SOS(Speed Of Sound) parameter. A central processor(7) generates an ultrasonic wave and the output signal is irradiated on a phalange bone(2) through a transmitter(1). A reflected ultrasonic wave from the phalange bone is received at a receiver(3). The received signal is amplified at a signal amplifier(4). A detector(5) detects necessary data, and the detected data is converted into a digital signal at an ADC(Analog Digital Converter)(6). The ultrasonic wave from the transmitter is reflected on phalange bone and received at the receiver at a speed of sound. Various data according to an age, a sex, and an ethnic group of a patient is stored in a database. The measured result is compared with the prestored data to diagnose a disease of the patient. The receiver and the transmitter are arranged on the same plane.

Description

Reflective Phalange Bone Density Measuring Apparatus Using Ultrasonic

1 is a bone density measurement apparatus provided with a conventional ultrasonic transmitter and receiver facing each other.

Figure 2 is a general configuration diagram of the bone density measuring apparatus for the phalanx by the transmitter and the receiver of the present invention is installed in the reflection plane in the same plane.

Fig. 3 is an external view showing an example of the appearance produced by Fig. 2;

4 is a flowchart of calculating a speed of sound (SOS) and calculating a diagnosis result.

5 is a graph showing the relationship between the central distance between the valley and the transceiver

* Description of the main parts of the drawings

1: transmitting unit 7: central processing unit

2: phalanges (finger bones) 8: monitor

3: receiver 9: printer

4 signal amplification unit 10 operation unit

5: Detection part 6: A / D conversion part

101: handset with ultrasonic sensor

102: various data input devices

103: central control unit

104: monitor

105: printer for outputting measurement data

The present invention mainly relates to a bone density measuring device for measuring the bone density of the human body, and more particularly to a bone density measuring device that can easily measure the bone density by measuring the speed of the reflected wave by firing ultrasonic waves targeting the phalanges of the human body. It is about.

As is well known, the conventional technique is a method of predicting and evaluating fracture risk by measuring, analyzing, and diagnosing bone density in a medical institution. Radiographic Absorptiometry (RA) and Dual Energy X-ray Absorption (DEXA; Dual Energy X- ray Absorptiometry), quantitative computed tomography (QCT), Quantitative CT (QUS), Quantitative US (QUS), and Quantitative MR (QMR). The radiation absorption method is a relatively simple method using an aluminum plate when photographing metacarpal bones or phalanges with X-rays, and the dual energy radiation absorption method blanks two X-ray films taken with X-rays using different energies. Calculation and measurement according to BEER Lmnbert's law, quantitative computed tomography first determines the location to take pictures and nutrition Center) and the surface parallel to the end plate of the vertebrae to accurately distinguish cortical and cancellous bones and to measure bone density according to volume.In quantitative ultrasonography, the transmitter and receiver are placed on opposite sides of the measurement object and measured. It is a method of measuring using the transmission speed of ultrasonic waves irradiated to an object. In this regard, since the method of using radiation has a harmful side to the human body as is well known, recently, bone density measurement methods using ultrasonic waves that do not adversely affect the human body have been proposed. Looking at the quantitative ultrasonic method in more detail, the ultrasonic transmitter and the receiver of the piezoelectric element is installed facing each other facing each other, and the ultrasonic wave emitted from the transmitter for the calcan, or the heel bone in between, the skin and bone of the calcaneus This configuration is shown in FIG. 1 as a method of measuring the density of bones by detecting a signal change when reaching the receiver on the opposite side through the signal.

As shown in FIG. 1, a receiver 1 for transmitting an ultrasonic signal and a receiver 3 for receiving and receiving ultrasonic waves transmitted from the transmitter 1 having passed through the skin and bone 2 of the human body on opposite sides are opposed to each other. And a signal amplifier 4 for amplifying the received signal to a sufficient size, a detector 5 for detecting data in the received signal, an A / D converter 6 for converting an analog signal into a digital signal, and an ultrasonic signal. Is generated and output to the transmitter 1, and the statistical data and WHO standard data stored in advance in the database are taken and compared with the signals input from the A / D converter 6 described above. The central processing unit 7 for determining the bone density state, the monitor 8 for outputting the determined state to the status screen set by the program, and the operation switch for operating the printer 9 and the device and various de According to the one in the operating unit 10 used to enter the site using water as the calcaneus that is, how the diagnostic intended for the heel bone of the human body as a medium it is a method of using the ultrasound-transmitting.

As such, the bone density measurement equipment in which the ultrasonic waves penetrate the measurement site has to be very large and expensive because the ultrasonic wave is radiated in the lateral direction of the bone and then transmitted through the medium to analyze the sound waves received from the opposite side. In addition to the production costs, there is no mobility, so the patient must go to the hospital where the device is installed to be diagnosed, and even when using the device, part of the human body must be sandwiched between the transmitter and the receiver. There is a problem.

In order to solve the above problems, an object of the present invention is to transmit and receive on a plane in the same direction in order to measure simple and accurate bone density of the phalanges of the human body using ultrasonic parameters in the bone density measuring apparatus using ultrasonic waves It is to provide a reflective phalanx bone density measuring apparatus using the ultrasonic wave integrated unit.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a signal amplifier for detecting an ultrasonic wave received through a human body by transmitting an ultrasonic wave and amplifying the received signal to a sufficient magnitude, a detector for detecting data in the received signal; The A / D converter converts analog signals into digital signals, and generates ultrasonic signals and outputs them to the transmitter, taking the statistical data stored in the database and the standard data of the World Health Organization (WHO). A central processing unit for determining the bone density state of the subject to be measured in comparison with a signal input from the converting unit, an operation switch for smoothly operating a monitor, a printer, and a device for outputting the determined state to a status screen set by a program; The control panel is used to input various data,

Ultrasonic wave made by piezoelectric element ultrasonic transmitter and receiver installed in the same plane in the same direction and the front of the phalanges, that is, ultrasonic waves emitted from the transmitter to the finger bones of the human body reflected from the bones of the phalanges to enter the receiver We propose a reflective phalanx bone mineral density measuring apparatus.

Accordingly, since the present invention measures bone density in the phalanx of the patient, it can be diagnosed very easily in using the device, and the ultrasonic transmitter and the receiver can be manufactured integrally, thereby reducing the size of the whole device. I can measure my handset just by pushing it against the skin, so it is very convenient to use, and the cost can be greatly reduced, so it can be easily used in a small hospital or home.

The present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

2 is a reflection unit provided in a plane in the same direction as the transmitter and the receiver of the present invention.

Overall structure of bone density measuring device for phalanges.

As can be seen from this, the signal generated by generating the ultrasonic signal from the central processing unit 7 is irradiated to the phalanx 2 of the human body at the transmitter 1 and the ultrasonic wave reflected from the phalanx 2 is received at the receiver 3. The received weak signal is amplified again by the signal amplifier 4 to a sufficient size, the detector 5 detects only necessary data, and the A / D converter 6 converts the analog data signal into a digital signal. Converted and read by the central processing unit 7, and the ultrasonic wave emitted from the transmitting unit 1 is reflected from the phalanx 2 of the human body until the time when the incident to the receiving unit (Speed of sound (hereinafter referred to as SOS)) It is a system for diagnosing a disease name by comparing the values classified by age, gender, race, etc. of various test subjects with data values previously stored in a database not shown in the central processing unit 7. An example of the appearance produced by such a configuration is shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 3, the ultrasonic waves generated by the central control unit 103 are manufactured in the form of a handset 102 in which the transmitter and the receiver are integrated, and the reflected waves emitted to the phalanges from the transmitter are returned to the central controller 101. Compared to the various data in the) and analyzed and output to the monitor 104, both the measuring person and the subject can be seen on the fly, and if necessary, it is also possible to output the document by the printer 105, and various data input device 102 is The apparatus of the invention is operated and various data required for measurement are input.

Here, in the present invention, when measuring the bone density, it is preferable to limit the measurement site to the middle finger, and the reason is that the error should be minimized at the time of measurement. This is because the thickness of the skin is so thin that it is not affected by the pressure on the sensor, so that the most accurate SOS value can be obtained from the human bone.

Figure 4 is a flow chart of measuring the speed of the ultrasonic wave is stored in a built-in database and calculates the diagnostic results based on the pre-stored standard data.

As shown in this figure, the process of firing and receiving ultrasound is repeated about 300 times each time to obtain the arithmetic mean value, and the collected data is based on statistical data and the T-SCORE (World Health Organization standard osteoporosis diagnostic parameter; ?? is divided by the standard deviation compared to the mean BMD of the adult population, ie (measure-average value for the young group) / standard deviation) and Z-SCORE (standard compared to the mean BMD of similar age groups in the same gender) Divide the deviation, ie (measured value-mean value of the same population) / standard deviation, so that the doctor can determine and prescribe results that conform to the WHO standard.

In the present invention, in order to apply to the method of using the reflected signal by emitting ultrasonic waves perpendicular to the bone portion, the measurement parameter by SOS is basically used. That is, the velocity of propagation of the medium depends on the density and elastic properties of the medium. The elastic force itself depends on the density of the bones and also depends on the structure of the bones. The basic formula for this is as follows.

초음파의 매질 전파 속도

Velocity of Medium Propagation

매질의 체적 탄성률 (Constant)

Volume Modulus of Medium (Constant)

매질의 밀도 (Density)

Density of the medium

가 된다.For more details on the medium of the ultrasonic wave, as shown in <Reference 1>, the density of the same material, that is, the same object, is

Becomes

* t: the time that the ultrasonic wave transmitted from the transmitter reaches the receiver

<Reference 1> Inertia coefficient B

In addition, when using the reflection method as shown in Figure 2, the speed at which the ultrasonic waves pass through the medium is as follows.

<Reference Figure 2> Sensor using reflection method

The theoretical basis for this is based on the experiments of MB Tavakoli and JA Evans, which shows that when the bone structure remains constant, the ultrasonic velocity in the bone is linearly related to the amount of minerals in the bone. Is used as one of the important diagnostic parameters of the ultrasound osteoporosis diagnostic apparatus. In addition, in order to use the SOS (Speed of Sound) value in measuring bone density, it is necessary to provide a parameter that conforms to the standards of the World Health Organization (WHO). As described above, this parameter includes T-SCORE and Z-SCROE. In the present invention, the above-mentioned T-SCORE is measured and recorded by using the above-described dual energy radiation absorption method (DEXA). To measure the SOS. It can be seen that the SOS value measured in this way and the T-SCORE value measured by the DEXA method have a linear relationship in the form of a linear function.

Based on these data, the T-SCROE is informed to the measurer using a function obtained through linear regression. Derivation of this equation is omitted as part of the theory of linear fit and the resulting equation is obtained as:

* T-SCORE: WHO standard osteoporosis diagnostic parameter

* SOS: Speed of sound measured by this product

For reference, the diagnosis criteria according to the WHO standard established in 1994 are as follows.

(1) Normal: higher than -1 standard deviation compared to young adults of the same gender

(2) Osteoporosis: when between -1 standard deviation and -2.5 standard deviation

Osteoporosis: less than -2.5 standard deviations

(4) Severe or established osteopororsis: When there is a fracture less than -2.5 standard deviations,

It is.

For reference, the actual diagnostic device provides a diagnostic value called Z-SCORE or T-SCORE. The display method is shown in <Reference 3> and <Reference 4>.

<Reference 3> Z-SCORE Graph

* Z-SCORE: Standard deviation divided by mean BMD of similar age group in same gender.

That is, (measured value-average value of the same population) / standard deviation.

A positive value of Z-SCORE means a higher bone density than the mean, and a negative value means a lower bone density than the mean.

<Reference 4> T-SCORE Graph

* T-SCORE: Standard deviation compared to mean BMD of young adult population in the same gender.

That is, (measured value-average value of the young population) / standard deviation.

A T-SCORE of -2 implies two standard deviations lower than the mean BMD of the young adult population.

The calculation method for measuring and diagnosing bone density in the present invention based on such a criterion will be described with reference to FIG. 5.

), 피 측정자 마다 다른 피부의 두께(D

)와 측정 골부의 두께(D

)가 있다. 여기서 관측되는 반사파는 피부조직과 뼈 조직에서의 1차 반사파와 뼈 조직과 아래쪽 피부 조직에서의 2차 반사파가 획득된다. 초음파가 트리거 되는 시점 t

에 대해서 반사파가 들어오는 시간 t

, t

는 다음과 같이 계산된다.As can be seen, there are various distance elements in the reflected wave reflected from the bone part, and the center distance (L) of the transmitter and receiver of the ultrasonic transmitter and receiver described above and the thickness of the contact gel applied to the skin during measurement (D).

), Skin thickness (D)

) And the thickness of the measured valleys (D

There is). The reflected wave observed here is obtained from the primary reflected waves in the skin tissue and the bone tissue and the secondary reflected waves in the bone tissue and the lower skin tissue. When the ultrasound is triggered

About the time t the echo comes in

, t

Is calculated as follows.

(1)

(One)

From equation (1),

(2)

(2)

을

라 하면,Time displacement assuming that the secondary reflection points of the ultrasound are the same

of

Say,

(3)

(3)

From the equations for density and ultrasonic velocity, the density (value including mineral content) is calculated as follows.

(4)

(4)

Where C is a constant if the measurement is for a specific part of the bone. Therefore, by using the time difference (SOS difference) between the first reflected wave and the second reflected wave during the ultrasonic emission, it is possible to measure the relative density of bone density, precisely the bone portion.

Accordingly, the present invention The ultrasonic transmitter and receiver can be manufactured in a handset type by being installed in a reflection plane on the same plane, so that the patient's middle finger finger can be easily scanned to obtain a faster and more accurate diagnosis. In addition, since only the SOS parameter that can obtain a relatively stable output value was used to increase the effectiveness of the measurement, based on this easy and quick bone density measurement can greatly reduce the cost of the measurement and reduce the inconvenience of the patient.

In addition, it can be manufactured in a small size by greatly reducing the size compared to the conventional one, in which the transmitter and receiver must be installed on both sides of the target body to be measured, which is convenient for storage or use, and the structure can be simplified for cost reduction. .

Therefore, the present invention has a useful effect that can be manufactured in a home as well as a hospital can be used conveniently regardless of time or place.

Claims (3)

The signal generated by generating the ultrasonic signal from the central processing unit 7 is irradiated to the phalanx 2 of the human body by the transmitter 1 and receives the ultrasonic wave reflected from the phalanx 2 at the receiver 3 and receives the weak signal. The signal amplification unit 4 amplifies the signal to a sufficient size, detects only necessary data from the detector 5, and converts the analog data signal into a digital signal in the A / D converter 6 to convert the data into a digital signal. The speed of sound (hereinafter referred to as SOS) from the transmitter 1 to the point of time when the ultrasonic wave emitted from the transmitter 1 is reflected from the phalanx 2 of the human body and is incident on the receiver 3 is calculated. In the system for diagnosing a disease name by comparing values classified by age, gender, race, etc. with data values previously stored in a database not shown in the central processing unit 7, the transmitter 1 and the receiver 3 are described. In the same direction and on the same plane Reflective phalanx bone density measuring device using ultrasonic waves according to that characteristic standing. The method according to claim 1, Reflective phalanx bone density measuring apparatus using ultrasonic waves, characterized in that the transmitter (1) and the receiver (3) is built into one handset (101). The method according to claim 1, The phalanx to be measured is a reflective phalanx bone density measuring apparatus using ultrasonic waves, characterized in that the middle finger.

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