New acoustic device ‘could help detect osteoarthritis’

UK researchers are developing a pioneering device that uses acoustic techniques to detect cases of knee osteoarthritis.

Led by Lancaster University, the method involves using microphones attached to the knees of patients to measure high-frequency sound waves emanating from their knees as they stand up.

Acoustic emissions can then be interpreted by computer software to give information about the health of the patient's knee. Doctors would this be able to use the system to check whether the knee is changing or responding to treatment.

This new method of medical assessment, based on interpreting body sounds, represents an innovative new field of research that is being spearheaded by British scientists.

John Goodacre, professor of musculoskeletal science at Lancaster University, said: "Researchers are only just starting to explore the idea of listening to structures like joints, arteries or the intestines and seeing if the sounds they make can tell us about diseases."

Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis in the UK and causes pain and stiffness in the joints that becomes progressively worse over time.