Method and apparatus for the acoustic detection and analysis of joint disorders

摘要

A noninvasive method and apparatus is presented for detecting and analyzing joint disorders utilizing an acoustic signal processing technique. The diagnostic procedure and apparatus graphically correlates joint induced sound patterns relative to the joint position in time and space thereby providing a quantitative approach for the diagnosis of specific joint disorders. The present invention, termed Arthrophonometry, is particularly well suited for differential diagnosis of the temporomandibular (TMJ) joint.