Systems and Methods for Early Detection of Fracture Healing

Abstract

In some embodiments, there is provide a method of analysing a bone fracture, comprising; stabilizing a bone having a fracture including a first support point located distal of the fracture and a second support point located proximal of the fracture; applying a force to an area of the bone having the fracture to cause a displacement of the fracture; imaging the bone during the application of force thereto; and comparing the image of the bone during the application of force to an image of the bone without the application of force to determine the state of the fracture.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A fracture testing system, comprising:
 an imaging device configured to image a bone fracture in a bone before and after the application of force thereto;   a force application mechanism configured to apply a controlled force to the bone fracture such that the bone fracture displaces by a threshold amount; and   proximal and distal supports configured to support the bone at locations proximal and distal of the bone fracture.   
     
     
         2 . The fracture testing system of  claim 1 , wherein force application mechanism includes an expandable member.
 The fracture testing system of  claim 2 , wherein the expandable member is configured to inflate using a pneumatic system that can be adjusted manually or electronically such that the expandable member applies the force to the bone fracture.   
     
     
         3 . The fracture testing system of  claim 1  further comprising a strain gauge or load cell to measure a strain on the bone. 
     
     
         4 . The fracture testing system of  claim 1  wherein the force application mechanism is configured to bend the bone to cause a displacement of the fracture. 
     
     
         5 . The fracture testing system of  claim 4  wherein the displacement is between about 82 microns and about 500 microns. 
     
     
         6 . The fracture testing system of  claim 4  wherein the displacement is between about 164 microns and about 250 microns. 
     
     
         7 . The fracture testing system of  claim 1  wherein the imaging device is High Resolution Peripheral Quantitative Computed Tomography (HR-pQCT). 
     
     
         8 . A fracture testing system comprising:
 a base configured to receive an arm of a patient having the bone fracture;   a force application platform, wherein the force application platform is moveable relative to the base along one or more guide rods;   a force applicator disposed on a side of the force application platform facing the base, such that the force applicator can be positioned in contact with the arm of the patient, wherein force applications is configured to apply a desired force on the fracture.   
     
     
         9 . The fracture testing system of  claim 8  further comprising a strain gauge or load cell to measure a strain on the bone. 
     
     
         10 . The fracture testing system of  claim 8  wherein the force application mechanism is configured to bend the bone to cause a displacement of the fracture. 
     
     
         11 . The fracture testing system of  claim 10  wherein the displacement is between about 82 microns and about 500 microns. 
     
     
         12 . The fracture testing system of  claim 10  wherein the displacement is between about 164 microns and about 250 microns. 
     
     
         13 . The fracture testing system of  claim 8  further comprising an imaging device. 
     
     
         14 . A method of analysing a bone fracture, comprising;
 stabilizing a bone having a fracture including a first support point located distal of the fracture and a second support point located proximal of the fracture;   applying a force to an area of the bone having the fracture to cause a displacement of the fracture;   imaging the bone during the application of force thereto; and   comparing the image of the bone during the application of force to an image of the bone without the application of force to determine the state of the fracture.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein comparing the images with and without the application of force allows for the measurement of bone strain of the fracture. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the measurement of bone strain is correlated to a particular stage of the healing process of the bone fracture. 
     
     
         17 . The fracture testing system of  claim 14  wherein the displacement is between about 82 microns and about 500 microns. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the displacement is between about 164 microns and about 250 microns. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the application of the force results in bending of the bone to cause the displacement of the fracture.
 The method of  claim 14  further measuring the displacement of the fracture.