Ultrasonic Evaluation of Deeply Located Trabecular Bones – Preliminary Results

Abstract

The analysis of ultrasonic signals scattered by soft tissues have been successfully applied for their characterization. Similarly, the trabecular bone backscattered signal contains information about the properties of the bone structure. Therefore scattering-based ultrasonic technique potentially enables the assessment of microstructure characteristics of a bone. The femoral neck fracture often occurs in the course of osteoporosis and can lead to severe complications. Therefore assessment of femoral bone microstructure and condition is important and essential for the diagnosis and treatment monitoring. As far most of the trabecular bone investigations have been performed in vitro. The only in vivo measurements were carried out in transmission and mostly concerned estimation of the attenuation in heel bone. We have built the ultrasonic scanner that could be useful in acquiring the RF (Radio Frequency) echoes backscattered by the trabecular bone in vivo. Moreover, the bone scanner provides data not only from heel bone but from deeply located bones as well (e.g. femoral bone). It can be also used for easily accessible bones like heel bone or breastbone. In this case a gel-pad is applied to assure focusing of ultrasound in trabecular bone (approximately 10 mm beneath the cortical bone). This study presents preliminary results of the attenuating properties evaluation of trabecular bone from the ultrasonic echoes backscattered by heel bone and femoral neck.