(Photo) Main page of the new software for predicting children's future growth.

ETRI's technology uses X-ray images to analyze physis, forecast child's future height.

Korean researchers have developed a new technology that can conveniently and easily predict a child's future height and treat poor growth in children.

The Electronic and Telecommunications Research Institute (President Choi Moon-ki) said on May 12 that it had developed 'software for predicting children's growth in height," which allows users to forecast a child's future height by measuring bone maturity via an analysis of his or her physis, or growth plate. The software is also expected to help doctors and parents treat children who are growing poorly.

The software is designed to predict a child's bone age and his or her projected height as a grownup by deciphering the maturity of the physis at two spots, including the radioulnar area and the phalanges, that are crucial for measuring the maturity of bones, based on the TW3 hand system, which is said to most accurately represent the maturity of a child.

The "child growth prediction system" currently employed at hospitals uses ultrasonic image scanners with poor accuracy, and requires the user to detect the 13 physis one by one, and compare physis images with the standard images. The test is a time-consuming process, and may even provide inconsistent analysis results to different doctors.

ETRI expects the new software will help doctors to "treat children who are growing relatively poorly," "predict a child's future height as an adult," "monitor progress in children undergoing growth treatment," and "predict the time for the emergence of second-stage sexual characteristics and conduct diagnosis of sexual pre-maturity," thus creating a new market for treating poor physical growth in children.

The technology was developed as part of ETRI's institutional basic project supported by the Ministry of Knowledge Economy. The institute plans to commercialize the technology through a test service for its industrialization and technology transfer.

Kim Seung-hwan, head of the u-Health research team, said, "The technology is expected to increase accuracy and reliability in predicting children's physical growth, and serve as a catalyst for activating the related market, including physical growth clinics."

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Hello DD.com
Jung Ji-eun,
jion97 at hellodd.com

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[May 15, 2009]

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Source - HelloDD.com