Invention:
This technology includes a system, method, and device capable of simply and rapidly measuring muscle function, thereby determining or detecting fatigue, frailty, or decline or muscular function. Despite the clinical significance of this data, there is currently no simple and effective method suitable for routine in-clinic assessment of muscle function. This technology’s strength lies in its ability to produce reliable data while also being inexpensive to assemble for the clinic and easy to use for the patient. It has the potential to enable rapid, cost-effective, and reliable collection of muscle function data which can inform wide variety of diagnoses and provide a better picture of a patient’s health.
Background:
Sarcopenia, a condition characterized by loss of skeletal mass and function, is associated with many chronic diseases, including advanced heart failure. Currently, it is often diagnosed by methods that are either simple-to-use but prone to variability between observers, such as anthropometry, or involve exposing the patient to ionizing radiation, like dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. Techniques like mechanomyography have long been investigated for applications in muscle function assessment, but have found limited usefulness.
In addition, the time is right for wearable devices. Devices that assess muscle function in athletics and sports medicine are growing more and more popular, and it is only a matter of time before they make the jump to the clinic. This technology is an excellent opportunity to jump in on the growing popularity of wearable devices, while simultaneously improving assessment and screening of a wide variety of quickly growing disorders such as heart failure, associated with an aging population.
Applications:
- Assessment of muscle function
- In general, or
- In sarcopenia-associated diseases such as heart failure
Advantages:
- Low-cost and easy for clinics to implement
- Simple for patients to use
- Produces reliable data
