Methods for evaluating subjects having conditions associated with loss of muscle function (e.g., a motor neuron disease, a neuromuscular disease, or a myopathy) by measuring muscle function (e.g., muscle strength) are disclosed.

A bone density estimating method, comprising: acquiring, by an MR scanning device, a magnetic resonance, MR, sequence of a body portion, wherein the MR sequence comprises quantitative information of the body portion; generating, by a processing circuit, an MR image of the body portion based on the MR sequence, wherein each voxel of the MR image represents a volume of the body portion; identifying, by the processing circuit, a part of the MR image representing a bone portion of the body portion; for a voxel of the identified part of the MR image, estimating a bone density of a volume of the bone portion represented by the voxel, based on a quantitative value of the voxel. The quantitative information of the body portion comprises a proton density.

Methods are described for conducting minimally invasive medical interventions utilizing instruments and assemblies thereof to stabilize and/or fixate a dysfunctional sacroiliac (SI) joint. In one embodiment, a defect creation assembly is advanced from a posterior approach into the SI joint and configured to create pilot SI joint opening; portions of which being disposed in the sacrum and ilium bone structures. After the pilot SI joint opening is created, a prosthesis is press-fit into the pilot SI joint opening, wherein the pilot SI joint opening transitions to a larger post-prosthesis insertion SI joint opening and the prosthesis is securely engaged to the sacrum and ilium bone structures.

Systems are described for stabilizing a dysfunctional sacroiliac (SI) joint of a subject. The systems include a tool assembly and a defect creation assembly, and a prosthesis. The tool assembly is adapted to create a pilot SI joint opening in the dysfunctional SI joint; portions of which being disposed in the sacrum and ilium bone structures. The prosthesis is sized and configured to be press-fit into the pilot SI joint opening, wherein the pilot SI joint opening transitions to a larger post-prosthesis insertion SI joint opening and the prosthesis is securely engaged to the sacrum and ilium bone structures. The system optionally includes an image capture apparatus adapted to capture images reflecting positions and/or orientations of the tool assembly when disposed in the subject's body.

Examples of a device for guiding and detecting a motion of a target joints and a motion assistance system such motion guiding devices are described. The motion guiding and detecting device comprises a motion generator and a motion transfer and target interfacing unit to transfer the motion generated by the motion generator to the target joint. The system further includes a motion detection and feedback unit that interfaces with the target, and a controller that interfaces with both the feedback unit and the motion generator to control and coordinate the motion of the motion generator and the target joint.

Determining a composite score includes deriving, based on an image set that includes at least one three-dimensional image of the synovial joint, first and second information. The first information indicates cumulative damage to the synovial joint. The second information indicates either one or both joint pain and loss of function of the synovial joint. The resulting composite score provides an objective measure of joint damage or an extent of joint disease.

An apparatus, system, and method for determining a position of a hip prosthesis in a bone of a patient includes determining a set of contact points between a femoral head of a femoral prosthesis and a cup liner of an acetabular cup to be implanted into a patient based on a mechanics model. The mechanics model is indicative of mechanical motion of a hip exhibited during performance of a set of ADL or at corresponding functional positions of the patient. In some embodiments, a mathematical model may be generated based on a plurality of sets of contact points determined using the mechanics model and subsequently used to determine a resultant set of contact points.

Devices, systems and methods for imaging cortical and trabecular bone are described. An example method for imaging cortical and trabecular bone is provided to include applying one or more adiabatic inversion recoveiy pulses to a cortical and trabecular bone, wherein the one or more adiabatic inversion recoveiy pulses are provided with multiple spokes in a three dimensional adiabatic ultrashort TE cones sequence (3D UTE-Cones sequence) that has a TR/TI combination, TR and TI corresponding to repetition time and inversion time, respectively; and performing data acquisition, by using the multiple spokes, on a target signal obtained after the applying of the one or more adiabatic inversion recoveiy pulses.

Disclosed herein are joint implants and methods for tracking joint implant performance. A method for monitoring a joint implant performance may include coupling a first implant to a first bone of a joint, the first implant including at least one magnetic marker. Coupling a second implant to a second bone of the joint, the second implant including at least one magnetic sensor to detect a position of the magnetic marker. Performing a first joint stress test to measure a baseline joint stability value, the baseline joint stability value being generated by the at least one magnetic sensor. Performing a second joint stress test to measure a second joint stability value, the second joint stability value being generated by the at least one magnetic sensor. Determining joint stability of the joint by comparing the baseline joint stability value to the second joint stability value.

A wireless system comprising a first wireless device and a second wireless device. The first wireless device is configured to operate with less than 15 milliamperes of current. The second wireless device has an internal power source and is configured to transmit one or more radio frequency signals to the first wireless device. The first wireless device is configured to receive the one or more radio frequency signals from the second wireless device. The first wireless device is configured to harvest energy from the one or more radio frequency signals. The first wireless device is enabled for operation after a predetermined amount of energy is harvested from the one or more radio frequency signals. A communication handshake occurs between the first and second wireless devices to indicate that the first wireless device is in communication with the second wireless device. The first wireless device is configured to perform at least one task from harvested energy.