A methodology to condition distorted acoustic emission signals to identify fracture timing from human cadaver spine impact tests. J Mech Behav Biomed Mater 2014 Dec;40:156-160
Date
09/23/2014Pubmed ID
25241279DOI
10.1016/j.jmbbm.2014.08.023Scopus ID
2-s2.0-84907519870 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 15 CitationsAbstract
While studies have used acoustic sensors to determine fracture initiation time in biomechanical studies, a systematic procedure is not established to process acoustic signals. The objective of the study was to develop a methodology to condition distorted acoustic emission data using signal processing techniques to identify fracture initiation time. The methodology was developed from testing a human cadaver lumbar spine column. Acoustic sensors were glued to all vertebrae, high-rate impact loading was applied, load-time histories were recorded (load cell), and fracture was documented using CT. Compression fracture occurred to L1 while other vertebrae were intact. FFT of raw voltage-time traces were used to determine an optimum frequency range associated with high decibel levels. Signals were bandpass filtered in this range. Bursting pattern was found in the fractured vertebra while signals from other vertebrae were silent. Bursting time was associated with time of fracture initiation. Force at fracture was determined using this time and force-time data. The methodology is independent of selecting parameters a priori such as fixing a voltage level(s), bandpass frequency and/or using force-time signal, and allows determination of force based on time identified during signal processing. The methodology can be used for different body regions in cadaver experiments.
Author List
Arun MWJ, Yoganandan N, Stemper BD, Pintar FAAuthors
Frank A. Pintar PhD Chair, Professor in the Biomedical Engineering department at Medical College of WisconsinBrian Stemper PhD Professor in the Biomedical Engineering department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Narayan Yoganandan PhD Professor in the Neurosurgery department at Medical College of Wisconsin
MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
AcousticsCadaver
Humans
Lumbar Vertebrae
Materials Testing
Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted
Spinal Fractures
Time Factors
Tomography, X-Ray Computed
Weight-Bearing