Sounding Out Muscle Health
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Karim Sabra is a mechanical engineer at Georgia Institute of Technology. He uses the sound that muscles make when they contract, to provide a universal standard that can be used to diagnose or aid in the treatment of muscular diseases. Muscle fibers when contracted, widen which makes quicker sound travel. In soft muscles sound travel is slower and vice versa for stronger muscles. Recently scientists havce used electrical stimulation to contract muscles and then measuring the sound with MRI's and ultrasound. Sabra believes that instead of measuring the sound that way, that using the same technology that Seismologist and other different scientific areas use. By using the passive sound of muscle, he can use sensors on the outside of muscles to measure the sound. Each sensor gives off its own reading. After a short time Sabra and other scientists recieved the the waveform of the sound throughout the leg. They then profiled the leg to find the characteristics of the muscle. Sabra is trying to form a universal standard for healthy muscle but due to different sizes of muscles in people, he knows extensive work is left to be done. This technology is more economical than previous technologies for this certain measurement. Also patients are not exposed to any radiation as the other techniques they were exposed to radiation. If the techniques proves to be successful muscular diseases such as Parkinson's disease could be diagnosed early and monitor the muscle during treatment. Also, a patient's progress in therapy for a muscle injury can be monitored and altered as needed. Another benefit is for athletes. They could use this technology to aid in the training that they are involved in.
Response
I think this new use of technology is a great investment. I think that people with muscle diseases or recovering patients could really benefit from this. This new techniques is economical and very practical. After more research and if a standard is set I think this will revolutionize the diagnosis of muscle diseases. I also think that there will be a substantial decrease in degeneration of muscles diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. I think that athletes using this could benefit majorly and would be able to train more specifically and efficiently.
posted by JoJoForever @ 12:56 PM
4 Comments:
Among other things, this article demonstrates how related everything is. A concept from oceanography and seismology is now being applied to muscles. With excellent results, at that.
The new technology, while not yet perfected, offers lots of potential. The article begins to hint at the endless possibilities, from diagnosis and research to athletes' training and physical therapy. Though it is still a long way off, having a standard sound for a healthy muscle will be extremely beneficial.
I think this is a great new discovery, that if they work out exactly how to do it, it will be a very successful procedure and benefit many people, such as athletes and older people who might have a disease (as stated).
I'm awed by technology yet again. This is a sweet new discovery and it would be great to be able to detect Parkinson's early! It's also important to try and be more economical, (like this) in the medical field, it tends to really add up.
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