System and Method for Diagnosing Onset of Osteoarthritis

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method of diagnosing/predicting a degenerative disease in the hip of a subject. The method including the steps of applying a compressive force on at least one hip joint of the subject and calculating a compression index value for at least one hip joint, wherein a non-zero compression index value for the at least one hip joint is indicative of the subject developing/having a degenerative disease. The present invention also relates to a diagnostic test for determining incongruity in a hip joint of a subject, where the test includes the steps of applying a compressive force on at least one hip joint of the subject and calculating a compression index value, wherein a non-zero compression index value for the hip joint is indicative of at least mild hip joint incongruity.

1 . A method of predicting a degenerative disease in the hip of a subject, comprising applying a compressive force on at least one hip joint of the subject and calculating a compression index value for the at least one hip joint of the subject, wherein a non-zero compression index value for the at least one hip joint is indicative of the subject developing a degenerative disease. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the non-zero compression index value for the at least one hip joint is further indicative of hip joint incongruity. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the degenerative disease is osteoarthritis. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the non-zero compression index value for the at least one hip joint is indicative of osteoarthritis in the subject at or before osteoarthritis is radiographically apparent in the subject. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the non-zero compression index value is greater than or equal to about 0.01. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the non-zero compression index value is greater than or equal to about 0.03. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the calculating of the compression index value comprises at least one radiographic image of the at least one hip joint. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the calculation of compression index value comprises use of circle gauges on the radiographic images to find the centers of the acetabulum and centers of the femoral heads, and measuring the distance between the two centers and dividing by the radius of the femoral head. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the calculation further comprises superimposing precision-machined circle gauges on the cortical margins (rims) of the acetabulum and femoral heads to find the respective geometric centers. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the calculation further comprises a software program that uploads digital radiographic images to a high-resolution computer screen. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the subject is a canine. 
     
     
         12 . A method for determining incongruity in a hip joint of a subject, comprising applying a compressive force on at least one hip joint of the subject and calculating a compression index value, wherein a non-zero compression index value for the at least one hip joint is indicative of at least mild hip joint incongruity. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the non-zero compression index value is greater than or equal to about 0.01. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the non-zero compression index value is greater than or equal to about 0.03. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the indication of hip joint incongruity is further indicative of a developing degenerative disease. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the developing degenerative disease is osteoarthritis. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the non-zero compression index value for the at least one hip joint is further indicative of osteoarthritis in the subject at or before osteoarthritis is radiographically apparent in the subject. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the calculating of the compression index value comprises at least one radiographic image of the at least one hip joint. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the calculation of compression index value comprises use of circle gauges on the radiographic images to find the centers of the acetabulum and centers of the femoral heads, and measuring the distance between the two centers and dividing by the radius of the femoral head. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the calculation further comprises superimposing precision-machined circle gauges on the cortical margins (rims) of the acetabulum and femoral heads to find the respective geometric centers. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the calculation further comprises a software program that uploads digital radiographic images to a high-resolution computer screen. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the subject is a canine.