High speed ultrasound monitoring in the field of sports biomechanics

M. Zakir Hossain; E. Twerdowski; W. Grill

doi:10.1117/12.776111

21 April 2008 High speed ultrasound monitoring in the field of sports biomechanics

M. Zakir Hossain, E. Twerdowski, W. Grill

Proceedings Volume 6935, Health Monitoring of Structural and Biological Systems 2008; 693523 (2008) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.776111
Event: SPIE Smart Structures and Materials + Nondestructive Evaluation and Health Monitoring, 2008, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

Ultrasonic monitoring allowing the evaluation of the performance of muscles under training has been developed. The monitoring scheme is suitable to determine muscle movement and is based on the measurement of the transit time of longitudinally polarized ultrasound propagating across the observed muscle. Variations of the length of the muscle lead to variations of the lateral extension since the volume of the muscle is conserved. The corresponding variations of the observed time-of-flight result dominantly from the variation of the path length. This allows the time-resolved detection of the movement of the muscles in the path of the ultrasonic beam. In this way not only the degree of contraction or relaxation, but also the speed of these processes can be quantitatively monitored. The muscle thickness has been determined with a resolution of ± 0.02 mm corresponding to about ± 0.2 % of the thickness of the relaxed muscle. This resolution is already in the range of unavoidable uncertainties caused by the surface structure of the individual muscles. Similarly, the already obtained resolution in time corresponds to a fraction 1/750 of the time of the fastest known human muscle movement of 7.5 ms, observed for the full contraction of the eye lid muscle. The time of flight is measured along a line between two electro-acoustic transducers positioned on the skin on opposite sides of the monitored muscle. The transducers can be placed at any desired position but should be positioned such, that no bones or intestines are obstructing the path between them. The time-of-flight from which all other data is derived is observed with the aid of a computer-controlled arbitrary function generator and a synchronized transient recorder. Even in the demonstrated developmental state the equipment is already rather compact (lap-top size) and can be battery operated.

Citation Download Citation

M. Zakir Hossain, E. Twerdowski, and W. Grill "High speed ultrasound monitoring in the field of sports biomechanics", Proc. SPIE 6935, Health Monitoring of Structural and Biological Systems 2008, 693523 (21 April 2008); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.776111

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available