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Title: Novel Methods using Vibration and Acoustics to Assess Joint Health Information
Committee:
Dr. Inan, Advisor
Dr. Ayazi, Chair
Dr. Erturk
Abstract: The aim of this research is to demonstrate novel methods to assess joint health using vibration and acoustics. Joint acoustic emissions (JAEs) from the knee have been used for joint health assessment as a non-invasive and inexpensive method. We envision that wearable systems including acoustics and vibration sensing modalities could be used in clinic, and ultimately at home. This research aims to: (1) quantify the effect of sensor packing and mounting on JAE measurements to devise a new sensor mounting method, (2) demonstrate that using data augmentation and machine learning methods, artifacts that corrupt JAEs could be mitigated to improve knee heath classification, (3) demonstrate that the structural changes in the knee following meniscal tear can be explained by locating and modelling repeated acoustic events in JAEs when combined with an analytical model of the knee and, as part of the proposed research, (4) demonstrate that a wearable active vibration device could accurately measure vibration characteristics of the knee which enables potential use for joint health assessment. This wearable active vibration sensing device will be developed and tested on a healthy population to show that vibration characteristics of the knee could accurately be measured comparable to benchtop systems. This wearable system could enable knee health assessment out of lab settings. Active vibration sensing methods could help develop more accurate analytical models of the knee that would enable detection of different injuries by explaining the structural changes in the knee. The methods demonstrated in this research could, ultimately, enable robust, non-invasive and affordable assessment of knee health by using vibration and acoustics.
