Vibration analysis of the spine using A-mode ultrasound

脊柱由三个机械子系统组成：1)结构元素，由收缩组织驱动，3)神经控制协调。在这种情况下，背部疼痛被认为是由这些机械子系统的功能障碍引起的机械问题。不幸的是，脊椎力学的评估在很大程度上依赖于为手臂和腿设计的传统方法。当将这些方法应用于脊柱时，由于脊柱较小、数量较多、流动性较差和关节较深，这些方法可能会出现问题。由于这些挑战，我们对机械性背痛的理解仍然有限，而与之相关的成本却在飙升。作为回应，Kawchuk博士的研究计划旨在通过开发专门针对脊柱子系统评估的技术来应对这些挑战。这份提案描述了该项目的一个途径：脊柱的振动反应。当这项技术应用于身体猪时，拧入椎骨并与振动主轴对齐的单加速计可以识别机械变化的存在、位置和程度。不幸的是，当基于皮肤的加速度计被用于评估皮下脊椎振动时，这种人类使用的方法是有问题的。因此，Kawchuk博士收集了试验数据，这些数据表明，通过直接使用A型超声波显示脊椎振动，可以消除基于皮肤的传感器的问题。在最近的一项台式可行性研究中，这项技术在500赫兹以下的频率下测量到了0.01毫米的循环位移。然后在活体中证实了同样的表现水平。这项申请寻求获得资金，以购买进一步开展这项工作所需的A型设备。这项研究将确定脊椎振动测量是否具有足够的灵敏度来区分脊柱的不同功能状态。

The spine is made up of three mechanical subsystems: 1) structural elements animated by 2) contractile tissues that are coordinated by 3) neurological control. Given this organization, back pain is considered to be a mechanical problem arising from dysfunction of these mechanical subsystems. Unfortunately, the evaluation of spinal mechanics relies heavily on traditional approaches designed for the arms and legs. When applied to the spine, these approaches can be problematic given the spine's smaller, more numerous, less mobile and deeper articulations. As a result of these challenges, our understanding of mechanical back pain remains limited while its related costs soar. In response, Dr. Kawchuk's research program had been designed to address these challenges by developing technologies specific to spinal subsystem evaluation. This proposal describes one of the program's avenues: the vibration response of the spine. When this technique applied to cadaveric pigs, uni-accelerometers screwed into vertebrae and aligned with the principle axis of vibration, can identify the presence, location and magnitude of mechanical alterations. Unfortunately, this approach for human use is problematic when skin-based accelerometers are used to assess subcutaneous vertebral vibration. As a result, Dr. Kawchuk has collected pilot data that demonstrates problems of skin-based sensors can be elimiated by visualizing vertebral vibration directly with A-mode ultrasound. In a recent bench-top feasibility study, this technique measured cyclic displacements of 0.01mm at frequencies up to 500Hz. This same level of performance was then confirmed in vivo. This application seeks to obtain funds to purchase the A-mode equipment needed to further this work. This research will determine if vertebral vibration measures have sufficient sensitivity to distinguish between different functional states of the spine.