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Biomedical subjects

K H Englmeier

Publications and source records attributed to K H Englmeier.

81 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

Methods and applications of three-dimensional imaging in orthopedics.

Computed tomography is a commonly used technique for detecting pathological alterations in soft tissues and the skeleton. Three-dimensional images of the skeleton are very useful for planning surgical treatment and monitoring therapy, but unfortunately mental reconstruction of complex three-dimensional anatomical structures from conventional tomography is very difficult. This article describes a process by which automated analysis of the regions of interest in the computed tomographic (CT) images yields the contours of the surfaces which can be presented pseudo-three-dimensionally using Phong's lighting model and Gouraud's shading methods. Three applications in the areas of orthopedics and neurosurgery demonstrate the efficacy of the method.

Bone Diseases↗

[Visualization of the uterine fundus in intrauterine sonography].

Intrauterine sonography (hysterosonography) is useful for visualising malignant processes in the myometrium. Since normally no sound-wave source is available for beaming the sound waves in strictly anterograde direction, the authors examined which sections of the fundus of the uterus cannot be assessed, and discussed the possibilities of reducing the area and also the importance of the inaccessible region. It was found that normally a satisfactory assessment would be possible in clinical routine even in the region of the fundus by the combined shifting of the geometrical axis of the sound waves and the use of transducers from which the sound waves emanate in anterograde direction at an angle of 135 degrees.

Female↗

[Automatic contour search and segmentation of sonographic transverse sectional pictures of the uterus with regard to optimization of individual isodose planning in uterine cancer].

Intrauterine ultrasonography has proved to be an adequate method to represent the normal myometrium as well as its pathologic modifications, especially for the assessment of localization and extent of malignant processes. So for the first time, intracavitary radiotherapy of the carcinoma of the body, especially the afterloading technique, can work by means of the produced crossections with a precisely defined target volume, because the sonographic probe and the afterloading probe have identical geometric configurations. A method is presented which allows a computer-assisted determination of the tumor volume by means of the segmentation of organ sections and a pseudo-threedimensional projection in combination with the energy dose distribution of the radioactive source.

Brachytherapy↗

[MRI-based 3-D analysis of the glenohumeral translation in patients with shoulder instability].

AIM: Until now, pathological translation of the glenohumeral joint could not be assessed three-dimensionally and in functionally important arm positions in the living. The objektive of this study was therefore to develop an MR-based technique for determining the three-dimensional glenohumeral translation in functionally relevant positions in vivo. METHOD: In an open MR scanner both shoulder joints of 5 volunteers with an unilateral traumatic instability were examined in different positions of abduction and rotation. After semiautomatic segmentation, 3D reconstruction of the bony structures of the shoulder girdle was performed and the center of mass of the glenoid cavity was determined and used as reference point. In a virtual reality, the midpoint of the humeral head was assessed and its position relative to the center of mass of the glenoid cavity was calculated. RESULTS: At 30 degrees of abduction, in both shoulders, the humeral head was positioned inferior and posterior relative to the glenoid cavity (healthy: 0.42 +/- 1.1 inf., 0.75 +/- 1.0 mm post.; unstable: 1.31 +/- 0.87 mm inf., 0.51 +/- 1.28 mm post.) The maximal translation (to anterior and inferior) was observed both on the healthy side (mean 1.0 mm, max. 1.8 mm) and in the unstable shoulders (mean 2.5 mm, max. 4.6 mm) with the arm in 90 degrees of abduction and external rotation, thus being 1.7 to 2.5 times higher in the pathological shoulders. CONCLUSIONS: With this technique the glenohumeral translation can be quantified three-dimensionally in functionally important positions and without projectional artefacts. In the future, this method can be applied to patients with different entities of shoulder instability.

Adolescent↗

[An MR-based technique for determination of the subacromial space width in subjects with and without shoulder muscle activity].

INTRODUCTION: The occurrence of the impingement syndrome of the shoulder is dependent on muscle activity and arm position. However, the current radiological workup is based on conventional radiographs, CT or MRI obtained at 0 degree of abduction and at muscular relaxation. The objective of this study was the development of a technique for simultaneous visualization of the humerus, scapula, clavicle and their relationship to the M. supraspinatus--in different arm abduction positions with and without muscle activity--as well as the determination of the minimal acromio-humeral distance. METHOD: The shoulder joints of 8 volunteers were examined in an open MRI system at 60 degrees, 90 degrees and 120 degrees of abduction, using a T1 weighted 3D gradient echosequence. Forces of 10 N were applied at the distal humerus. After 3D reconstruction, the acromio-humeral distance was computed with Euclidian distance transformation. RESULTS: With increasing abduction, the acromio-humeral distance decreased significantly (p < 0.05), but the distance vector was localised laterally to the M. supraspinatus at 120 degrees. With muscle activity a reduction of the subacromial space of 29% (p < 0.05) occurred at 60 degrees whereas at 120 degrees a 51% (p < 0.05) increase was noted. At 90 degrees, no significant difference was observed. CONCLUSION: With the technique presented it is possible to determine the subacromial space width in different arm positions independent of the specific section orientation, with and without muscle activity. The method can be used as a basis for biomechanical investigations and for the clinical diagnosis of impingement syndrome.

Adult↗

Sex-specific differences of subacromial space width during abduction, with and without muscular activity, and correlation with anthropometric variables.

The objectives of this study were to determine sex-specific differences of the subacromial space width during active and passive arm abduction and to analyze the correlation of this space with general and regional anthropometric variables. Fourteen healthy subjects (7 men, 7 women) were examined with an open magnetic resonance system at 30 degrees and 90 degrees of abduction (with and without muscle activity). After 3-dimensional reconstruction, the minimal acromiohumeral distance, the glenoid size, and the humeral head radius were determined. At 30 degrees of abduction, a significant difference of the acromiohumeral distance was observed between men (8.18 +/- 1.0 mm) and women (6.98 +/- 0.75 mm) (P < .05), but not at 90 degrees (6.7 +/- 2.0 mm versus 5.9 +/- 1.0 mm) or under muscle activity (4.9 +/- 2.4 mm versus 3.5 +/- 2.1 mm). Significant correlations between the acromiohumeral distance and anthropometric variables were found at 30 degrees of abduction (r = 0.48 to 0.72), but not at 90 degrees, with or without muscle activity (r = 0.21 to 0.55). The results demonstrate that at physical rest, the subacromial space width is dependent on sex, but the interindividual variability increases substantially during abduction and under muscle activity.

Adult↗

Practical evaluation of standard-based low-cost video conferencing in telemedicine and epidemiological applications.

The results of the evaluation of use of low-cost video conferencing systems (VCSs) in telemedicine is presented. Applications sharing, a new feature of these systems, recently has allowed high-quality computer-supported collaborative work (CSCW). The video conferencing (VCing) equipment used was Intel ProShare 200 v2.0a. It is representative of other low-cost VCSs. The areas of application are epidemiology and telemedicine (orthopaedics and radiology). Potential end users filled out 58 evaluation questionnaires concerning user profiles, contents and benefits of the sessions, organizational aspects, user friendliness, user acceptance, cost effectiveness, technical and multipoint related aspects. Although the end users had a lot of computer experience, their knowledge in VCSs was rather limited. The users assessed the system capable of being integrated into routine work, despite a high organizational impact. The VCS is user friendly, application sharing being used in almost every session. Audio quality was not always sufficient. The remote video was sufficient, as was the quality of medical images such as CT, MRI or X-ray. The user acceptance of the system was high. Multipoint sessions require a structured protocol to be effective. Some technical problems with MCUs (Multipoint Control Units) occurred. The use of low-cost standard VCSs in telemedicine is advisable and is a good substitute for real meetings.

Cost-Benefit Analysis↗

[New aspects of radiologic pelvimetry. Digital image intensification radiography: preliminary results of validation possibilities and results in various types of pelvic disproportion].

Within 1 year with 1325 births 54 cases necessitated operative obstetric intervention due to a disproportion between fetal head and maternal pelvis. In 40 cases radiologic pelvimetry was performed, using the conventional technique. 75% of cases turned out to be due to a midplane or outlet contraction. As, on the one hand, this type of pelvic disproportion seems to be of increasing importance, on the other hand generously adoperated radiologic diagnosis is not well accepted by the patients due to X-ray burden, Digital Image Intensifier Radiography (DIR) has been introduced for pelvimetry. X-ray burden amounts to only 5% of that of the conventional technique. Enhanced postprocessing and interactive measurement possibilities are further advantages of DIR. Using the appropriate softwear, interactive measurement results are characterized by the lack of mistakes due to X-ray divergence, if only the distance between measurement level and desk surface is known. By analyzing 30 computer tomograms measurement levels of the most important pelvic distances could be calculated in relation to the position of the anterior iliac spine. These relations show a very low interindividual variation. Thus, possible errors in measurement amount to a maximum of only 3.5%. The evaluation of our cases reveals the necessity to reassess the normal ranges for pelvic parameters, for the use of those deriving from conventional pelvimetry failed to describe correctly the anatomy of birth channel. For this sake, additional measurements, esp. of sacral and pelvic outlet anatomy have to be performed. Based upon these measurements, a computer aided modelling of the birth channel and a simulation of the birth could be achieved.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Computer Simulation↗