MRI Scans for Back Pain Can Be Augmented by a New Seismic Vibration Treatment
|
By MedImaging International staff writers Posted on 30 Mar 2016 |
|
Image: Example of seismic vibration technology being used for diagnosis of back-pain in a patient (Photo courtesy of the University of Alberta).
The need for costly MRI scans to diagnose patients with back pain could be reduced significantly by the use of a simple, inexpensive and safe new technology, and could also decrease the incidence of over-treatment.
The technique was demonstrated by teams of researchers in Canada, and Denmark who studied the lumbar spine of twins and showed that structural changes in the spine affect its vibration response significantly.
The two teams from the University of Alberta (Edmonton, Alberta, Canada), and the University of South Denmark (Odense, Denmark) used gentle seismic vibration to find the vibration responses in identical twins, and the location of the back-pain.
The study was published online in the March, 11, 2016, issue of the journal Scientific Reports. The biomechanical study showed that in twins with similar spines, the seismic vibration responses were statistically similar. If one of the twins had suffered an accident or injury for example, the vibration responses were significantly different. Denmark has the largest and most comprehensive twin registry in the world, and this contributed to the research.
According to the researchers the results of the study show that the seismic vibration technique can be used as a diagnostic tool and improve the use of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) in the short term. In the long term, the new technique could also provide new diagnoses that can supplement imaging tests in use today. Currently MRI scans for back pain are over-used, often unnecessary, and a cost burden and strain on healthcare resources.
Cameron Schuler, president and CEO, VibeDx (Edmonton, Alberta, Canada), the company that licensed the new technology, said, "Back problems are a significant cause of disability world-wide. For 90 percent of these patients, current diagnostic methods are not able to identify their problems. Our hope is VibeDx will help improve our ability to identify the cause of the patient's back problem, which will then assist clinicians in matching a patient to the best course of treatment for their specific situation."
Related Links:
University of Alberta
University of South Denmark
VibeDx
The technique was demonstrated by teams of researchers in Canada, and Denmark who studied the lumbar spine of twins and showed that structural changes in the spine affect its vibration response significantly.
The two teams from the University of Alberta (Edmonton, Alberta, Canada), and the University of South Denmark (Odense, Denmark) used gentle seismic vibration to find the vibration responses in identical twins, and the location of the back-pain.
The study was published online in the March, 11, 2016, issue of the journal Scientific Reports. The biomechanical study showed that in twins with similar spines, the seismic vibration responses were statistically similar. If one of the twins had suffered an accident or injury for example, the vibration responses were significantly different. Denmark has the largest and most comprehensive twin registry in the world, and this contributed to the research.
According to the researchers the results of the study show that the seismic vibration technique can be used as a diagnostic tool and improve the use of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) in the short term. In the long term, the new technique could also provide new diagnoses that can supplement imaging tests in use today. Currently MRI scans for back pain are over-used, often unnecessary, and a cost burden and strain on healthcare resources.
Cameron Schuler, president and CEO, VibeDx (Edmonton, Alberta, Canada), the company that licensed the new technology, said, "Back problems are a significant cause of disability world-wide. For 90 percent of these patients, current diagnostic methods are not able to identify their problems. Our hope is VibeDx will help improve our ability to identify the cause of the patient's back problem, which will then assist clinicians in matching a patient to the best course of treatment for their specific situation."
Related Links:
University of Alberta
University of South Denmark
VibeDx
Ultrasound Table
Women’s Ultrasound EA Table
New
MRI Infusion Workstation
BeneFusion MRI Station
Ultra-Flat DR Detector
meX+1717SCC
Ultrasonic Pocket Doppler
SD1
Latest MRI News
- AI Tool Tracks Effectiveness of Multiple Sclerosis Treatments Using Brain MRI Scans
- Ultra-Powerful MRI Scans Enable Life-Changing Surgery in Treatment-Resistant Epileptic Patients
- AI-Powered MRI Technology Improves Parkinson’s Diagnoses
- Biparametric MRI Combined with AI Enhances Detection of Clinically Significant Prostate Cancer
- First-Of-Its-Kind AI-Driven Brain Imaging Platform to Better Guide Stroke Treatment Options
- New Model Improves Comparison of MRIs Taken at Different Institutions
- Groundbreaking New Scanner Sees 'Previously Undetectable' Cancer Spread
- First-Of-Its-Kind Tool Analyzes MRI Scans to Measure Brain Aging
- AI-Enhanced MRI Images Make Cancerous Breast Tissue Glow
- AI Model Automatically Segments MRI Images
- New Research Supports Routine Brain MRI Screening in Asymptomatic Late-Stage Breast Cancer Patients
- Revolutionary Portable Device Performs Rapid MRI-Based Stroke Imaging at Patient's Bedside
- AI Predicts After-Effects of Brain Tumor Surgery from MRI Scans
- MRI-First Strategy for Prostate Cancer Detection Proven Safe
- First-Of-Its-Kind 10' x 48' Mobile MRI Scanner Transforms User and Patient Experience
- New Model Makes MRI More Accurate and Reliable
Channels
Radiography
view channel
World's Largest Class Single Crystal Diamond Radiation Detector Opens New Possibilities for Diagnostic Imaging
Diamonds possess ideal physical properties for radiation detection, such as exceptional thermal and chemical stability along with a quick response time. Made of carbon with an atomic number of six, diamonds... Read more
AI-Powered Imaging Technique Shows Promise in Evaluating Patients for PCI
Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), also known as coronary angioplasty, is a minimally invasive procedure where small metal tubes called stents are inserted into partially blocked coronary arteries... Read more
Ultrasound
view channel.jpeg "Image: The AI-powered lung ultrasound tool outperformed human experts by 9% in diagnosing TB (Photo courtesy of Adobe Stock)")
AI-Powered Lung Ultrasound Outperforms Human Experts in Tuberculosis Diagnosis
Despite global declines in tuberculosis (TB) rates in previous years, the incidence of TB rose by 4.6% from 2020 to 2023. Early screening and rapid diagnosis are essential elements of the World Health... Read more
AI Identifies Heart Valve Disease from Common Imaging Test
Tricuspid regurgitation is a condition where the heart's tricuspid valve does not close completely during contraction, leading to backward blood flow, which can result in heart failure. A new artificial... Read more
Nuclear Medicine
view channel
Novel PET Imaging Approach Offers Never-Before-Seen View of Neuroinflammation
COX-2, an enzyme that plays a key role in brain inflammation, can be significantly upregulated by inflammatory stimuli and neuroexcitation. Researchers suggest that COX-2 density in the brain could serve... Read more
Novel Radiotracer Identifies Biomarker for Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), which represents 15-20% of all breast cancer cases, is one of the most aggressive subtypes, with a five-year survival rate of about 40%. Due to its significant heterogeneity... Read more
General/Advanced Imaging
view channel
AI-Powered Imaging System Improves Lung Cancer Diagnosis
Given the need to detect lung cancer at earlier stages, there is an increasing need for a definitive diagnostic pathway for patients with suspicious pulmonary nodules. However, obtaining tissue samples... Read more
AI Model Significantly Enhances Low-Dose CT Capabilities
Lung cancer remains one of the most challenging diseases, making early diagnosis vital for effective treatment. Fortunately, advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) are revolutionizing lung cancer... Read more
Imaging IT
view channel
New Google Cloud Medical Imaging Suite Makes Imaging Healthcare Data More Accessible
Medical imaging is a critical tool used to diagnose patients, and there are billions of medical images scanned globally each year. Imaging data accounts for about 90% of all healthcare data1 and, until... Read more
Global AI in Medical Diagnostics Market to Be Driven by Demand for Image Recognition in Radiology
The global artificial intelligence (AI) in medical diagnostics market is expanding with early disease detection being one of its key applications and image recognition becoming a compelling consumer proposition... Read more
Industry News
view channel
GE HealthCare and NVIDIA Collaboration to Reimagine Diagnostic Imaging
GE HealthCare (Chicago, IL, USA) has entered into a collaboration with NVIDIA (Santa Clara, CA, USA), expanding the existing relationship between the two companies to focus on pioneering innovation in... Read more
Patient-Specific 3D-Printed Phantoms Transform CT Imaging
New research has highlighted how anatomically precise, patient-specific 3D-printed phantoms are proving to be scalable, cost-effective, and efficient tools in the development of new CT scan algorithms... Read more
Siemens and Sectra Collaborate on Enhancing Radiology Workflows
Siemens Healthineers (Forchheim, Germany) and Sectra (Linköping, Sweden) have entered into a collaboration aimed at enhancing radiologists' diagnostic capabilities and, in turn, improving patient care... Read more