Diagnostics Knee Arthrometer for Detecting Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Structural Changes

Abstract

Researchers at University of California, Davis have developed a device that has a potential to detect ACL changes that may be predictive for subsequent catastrophic injury.

Full Description

The Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) is a major knee ligament that is commonly injured in athletes and these injuries are a significant clinical issue. The ability to quantify ACL behavior quickly in vivo provides a means to explore a variety of theories regarding knee injury mechanisms and interventions to prevent ACL injury.

Researchers at UC Davis have developed a device that allows relatively rapid (within minutes) quantification of the anterior/posterior shear force displacement (F-D) of the human knee, which is an indicator of the F-D behavior of the ACL. This device has potential as a diagnostic tool to detect ACL changes that may be predictive for subsequent catastrophic injury and therefore could be useful for physicians.

Applications

• Quantify the F-D behavior of an ACL in-vivo
• Pre-injury diagnostic tool

Features/Benefits

• Real time continuous, force-deformation, display and recording
• Direct measurement of the relative location of femur and tibial tuberosity to eliminate displacement errors that can result from soft tissue deformation
• Vertical orientation of the leg during testing to apply a traction force at the knee to eliminate bone cartilage contact forces contributing resistance to tibial shear displacement
• Vertical orientation of the leg to prevent the wight of the leg and testing device from applying a tibial shear force

Patent Status