Nondestructive Surface Detection of Cartilage Degeneration

这项工作是继续进行基础研究，以开发软骨退变早期检测和表征的新技术。该方法依赖于先前的发现，即通过表面电极引入的电流会产生可测量的应力，并且这种应力会随着软骨的化学降解而变化。利用不同的电流频率和活动电极的空间排列，在三维空间上定位退化部位。如果成功，这项跨学科的研究将为研究软骨变性提供新的研究工具；该结果也可能被证明是有用的早期临床检测退行性软骨。

This work is to continue basic studies to develop new technology for the early detection and characterization of cartilage degeneration. The method relies on previous findings that electrical current introduced via surface electrodes produces a measurable stress, and that this stress varies as a result of chemical degradation of the cartilage. Different frequencies of current and spacial arrangements of active electrodes will be used in order to localize the site of degeneration in 3 dimensions. If successful, this cross-disciplinary research will result in a new research tool to study cartilage degeneration; the results may also prove useful for the early clinical detection of degenerating cartilage.