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Pulsed Vibro-Acoustic Analysis Technique for Monitoring Bone Health in Preterm Infants: A Pilot Study
Pradeep Kumar Chaudhary1, Juanjuan Gu1, David P Rosen1
1Department of Physiology and Biomedical Engineering, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Rochester.
Insights
A new ultrasound method, pulsed vibro-acoustic analysis, shows promise for monitoring bone mineralization in preterm infants. This non-invasive technique can track bone health progression, aiding in the management of metabolic bone disease of prematurity (MBDP).
Area of Science:
- Neonatal Medicine
- Biomedical Engineering
- Pediatric Orthopedics
Background:
- Metabolic bone disease of prematurity (MBDP) is a common complication in preterm infants.
- Current diagnostic methods for MBDP may be invasive or lack affordability.
- Non-invasive and cost-effective tools are needed to monitor bone health in at-risk infants.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce and evaluate a novel ultrasound-based method, pulsed vibro-acoustic analysis, for assessing bone mineralization in infants.
- To investigate the feasibility of this technique in preterm and full-term infants.
- To correlate bone vibrational characteristics with infant growth parameters like weight and postmenstrual age.
Main Methods:
- Pulsed vibro-acoustic analysis was employed, utilizing ultrasound acoustic radiation force to induce bone vibration.
- Acoustic waves generated by bone vibration were detected using a skin-placed hydrophone over the tibia.
- In vivo feasibility was assessed in 25 preterm and 10 full-term infants, with longitudinal data collected from preterm infants.
Main Results:
- Significant changes in speed of sound and mean peak frequency were observed with increasing postmenstrual age and weight in preterm infants (p<0.05).
- Statistically significant differences in speed of sound for both fast and slow waves were found between preterm and full-term infants (p<0.01 and p<0.02, respectively).
- The study demonstrated the potential of vibro-acoustic parameters to reflect bone mineralization status.
Conclusions:
- Pulsed vibro-acoustic analysis is a feasible non-invasive method for evaluating bone properties in infants.
- This technique shows potential for monitoring the progression of bone mineralization in preterm infants.
- Further research can establish this method as a valuable tool for managing MBDP and other bone conditions in neonates.
Abstract:
Despite advances in neonatal care, metabolic bone disease of prematurity (MBDP) remains a common problem in preterm infants. The development of non-invasive and affordable diagnostic approaches can be highly beneficial in the diagnosis and management of preterm infants at risk of MBDP. In this study, we present an ultrasound method called pulsed vibro-acoustic analysis to investigate the progression of bone mineralization in infants over time versus weight and postmenstrual age. The proposed pulsed vibro-acoustic analysis method is used to evaluate the vibrational characteristics of the bone. This method uses the acoustic radiation force of ultrasound to vibrate the bone. The generated acoustic waves are detected using a hydrophone placed on the skin over the tibia. The frequency of vibration and the speeds of received acoustic waves have information regarding the material property of the bone. We examined the feasibility of this method through an in vivo study consisting of 25 preterm and 10 full term infants. The pulsed vibro-acoustic data were acquired longitudinally in preterm infants with multiple visits and at a single visit in full term infants. Speed of sound and mean peak frequency of slow and fast sound waves recorded by hydrophone were used to analyze bone mineralization progress. Linear mixed model was used for statistical analysis in characterizing the mineralization progress in preterm infants compared to data from full term subjects. Significance changes in wave parameters (speed of sound and mean peak frequency) with respect to the postmenstrual age and weight in preterm infants were observed with p-values less than 0.05. Statistical significances in speed of sound measurement for both fast and slow waves were observed between preterm and full term infants, with p-values of <0.01 and 0.02, respectively. The results of this pilot study indicate the potential use of vibro-acoustic analysis for monitoring the progression of bone mineralization in preterm infants.
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