A MEDICAL DEVICE FOR THE DIAGNOSIS OF CARTILAGE DEGENERATION VIA SPATIAL MAPPING OF COMPRESSION-INDUCED ELECTRICAL POTENTIALS

摘要

The present invention relates to a medical apparatus (23) for the early detection and the diagnosis of cartilage degeneration and a method for using such apparatus. The apparatus comprises at least two point electrodes (33), a signal processor (17) located in proximity of the electrodes, a defined abutment (29) in recess of the electrodes for allowing compression of the cartilage against the electrodes until the cartilage abuts against the abutment surface and a computer program for analyzing and interpreting the data received from the electrodes. The medical apparatus may be used in research to identify effects of new compounds or drugs on the cartilage or may be used in clinics to monitor the degradation of cartilage of a patient over an extended period of time.