Electrokinetic methods for arthroscopic detection of cartilage degeneration in synovial joints

This study focuses on two approaches for the nondestructive measurement of certain electrokinetic properties of articular cartilage that provide a sensitive measure of tissue degradation in degenerative joint diseases such as osteoarthritis. The first method involves measurement of current generated stress (electrical to mechanical transduction) using a newly developed surface probe to apply a standing wave of electric current to the articular surface and measure the resulting bulk mechanical stress detectable at the surface. The second method involves simultaneous measurement of cartilage oscillatory stiffness and streaming potential (mechanical to electrical transduction) using an electrokinetic indentation probe. The authors report the dependence of the response on the frequency and wavelength of the stimulus and the geometry of the specimen, using excised cartilage and intact animal joints