Background

Muscle strain is the result of tension-generating sites within muscle fibers acting cumulatively to generate contraction. Currently, few in vivo imaging techniques are able to characterize muscle strain. Strain analysis is currently being embraced and increasingly adopted in many echocardiography laboratories worldwide.

Technology Overview

SDU researchers have applied the speckle tracking technology to measure individual skeletal muscle function expressed as contractility capacity (). Results of this non-invasive in vivo examination of muscles gave promising results as shown in a, b and c.

2D speckle tracking ultrasound (STU) allows non-invasive tracking of the deformation of muscle fibres within skeletal muscles.

The perspective is that STU can be used in daily clinical practice to track muscle function (i.e. muscle contractility), to monitor rehabilitation of any muscular damage, improvements of muscle recovery following cerebral injury, treatment responses of neuromuscular disease, in addition to muscle fatigue and sarcopenia/aging.

Stage of Development

TRL 4.

The lab test have used EchoPac software (GE®) and ultrasonic equipment for speckle tracking. The technology is ready to be implemented in speckle tracking equipment designed for measuring strain in skeletal muscles. The research team is open to assist in developing the speckle tracking for testing skeletal muscle contraction.

Benefits

Reduced or abnormal strain patterns are observed in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients.

Strain can, however, be improved following medical treatment.
In healthy controls, strain patterns are linearly associated with increasing external loads.

Opportunity

Collaboration on building prototypes including developing dedicated ultrasonic equipment for speckle tracking of skeletal muscles
Research collaboration to utilize the technology further – e.g. other muscle groups or aiming towards specific disorders
Both public and private partners are welcome

Direct Isometric Muscle Strain Analyses using Speckle Tracking Ultrasound Technology

Patents

IP Status

Seeking