Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Quantitative Analysis Of Three-Dimensional Cone-Beam Computed Tomography Using Image Quality Phantoms, Rudy Baronette

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

In the clinical setting, weight-bearing static 2D radiographic imaging and supine 3D radiographic imaging modalities are used to evaluate radiographic changes such as, joint space narrowing, subchondral sclerosis, and osteophyte formation. These respective imaging modalities cannot distinguish between tissues with similar densities (2D imaging), and do not accurately represent functional joint loading (supine 3D imaging). Recent advances in cone-beam CT (CBCT) have allowed for scanner designs that can obtain weight-bearing 3D volumetric scans. The purpose of this thesis was to analyze, design, and implement advanced imaging techniques to quantify image quality parameters of reconstructed image volumes generated by a commercially-available …

Wearable Sensors And Total Knee Arthroplasty: Assessing Quantitative Function To Improve The Patient Experience, Megan Fennema

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic degenerative disease for which the only long-term solution is total knee arthroplasty (TKA), though many patients are not satisfied with their TKA. Satisfaction in TKA patients is not well understood. Subjective questionnaires and objective functional tests have been previously used to assess TKA outcomes, but both have disadvantages. Wearable sensors have facilitated affordable biomechanical measurement in OA and TKA populations. The objective of this work was to use wearable sensors alongside functional tests with TKA patients to identify quantitative function that related to subjective function and satisfaction. A wearable sensor-setup was validated before implementation in …

Analysis Of Subchondral Bone And Microvessels Using A Novel Vascular Perfusion Contrast Agent And Optimized Dual-Energy Computed Tomography, Justin J. Tse

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Osteoarthritis (OA), is a chronic debilitating disease that affects millions of individuals and is characterized by the degeneration of joint subchondral bone and cartilage. These tissue degenerations manifest as joint pain, limited range of joint motion, and overall diminished quality of life. Currently, the exact mechanism(s) and cause(s) by which OA initiates and progresses remain unknown. The multi-factorial complex nature of OA (i.e. age, diabetes, obesity, and prior injuries have all been shown to play a role in OA) contributes to the current lack of a cure or effective long-term treatment for OA.

One re-emerging and interesting hypothesis …