Noisy Knees P2D: optimal AE data collection system for knee OA

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  Noisy Knees P2D: To develop, compare and select the optimal acoustic emission data collection system for acoustic emissions in knee osteoarthritis.

• IRAS ID

  261390

• Contact name

  David Cheneler

• Contact email

  d.cheneler@lancaster.ac.uk

• Sponsor organisation

  Lancaster University

• Duration of Study in the UK

  0 years, 1 months, 30 days

• Research summary

  The purpose of this project is to improve the acoustic emission (AE) data collection system used in previous knee osteoarthritis (OA) studies in order to optimise the reproducibility of the AE measurement. The previous studies showed a correlation between the acoustic emission data, characterised by the number of peaks measured during the experiment, and the degree of severity of osteoarthritis in the knee, to which the sensors were attached, exhibited by the participants of the study. However, they also showed a high variance when comparing the AE data collection system used at different sites, i.e. nominally identical sensor platforms behaved inconsistently. Improving the sensor platform to achieve maximum reliability and consistency for the AE measurement will lead to better correlation between AE data and clinical biomarkers. Improved reproducibility of AE measurement will support the potential for its use in multi-centre clinical trials and long-term monitoring of knee OA in clinical practice.

  During the proposed project, we will investigate design options for data collection systems that accommodate the complex geometry of the knee, reduce variance in AE measurements and obtain an optimal solution for use in clinical trials. This will include considering the use of different commercially available ultrasonic microphones (not medical instruments), the associated circuitry, data acquisition technologies and sensor attachment solutions. The efficacy of the designs will be ascertained by testing the sensor platforms on a set of NHS patients who were involved in the previous study and hence have medically confirmed osteoarthritis and have consented to be contacted again for involvement in future research.

  The objectives are:
  1) Identify and develop new designs for an AE data collection system
  2) Compare the acceptability and performance of new AE data collection systems with the existing system
  3) Select the optimal AE data collection system for future use

• REC name

  North West - Haydock Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  19/NW/0562

• Date of REC Opinion

  1 Oct 2019

• REC opinion

  Favourable Opinion