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- Talk
- 25/09/2023
- UK
An Optimisation On Framework To Enable The Measurement Of Strain In Ligaments Using Ultrasound
Description
In this presentation, Isabelle Kuder, a PhD student from the Biomechanics Group at Imperial College London, discusses her research on ultrasound strain measurements in ligaments. She explains the significance of accurate ligament strain monitoring, particularly in the context of complications following ligament surgery, where instability and stiffness can lead to a considerable percentage of revision surgeries. Isabelle introduces a novel optimization framework for ultrasound speckle tracking—a technique that can quickly and non-invasively measure how ligaments engage post-surgery.
The challenge faced by existing commercial algorithms is their ineffectiveness in modeling the complex behaviors of thin tissues like tendons and ligaments, necessitating a tailored solution. Her study seeks to automate the tuning of algorithm settings to enhance ultrasound strain measurement for various applications, specifically targeting the medial collateral ligament (MCL).
She details the rigorous validation process involving optical tracking systems alongside ultrasound metrics to ensure the accuracy of the optimized measurements in various conditions, including quasi-static loading of porcine and dynamic flexion of human specimens. Her findings illustrate the potential of the optimized algorithms to deliver accurate strain readings that align closely with optically measured data, demonstrating the feasibility of using ultrasound as a reliable method for assessing soft tissue biomechanics.
Kuder concludes by emphasizing the broader implications of her research in advancing orthopedic diagnostics and how her proposed methodology simplifies the adaptation and implementation of ultrasound technology across diverse biomedical applications.