Noninvasive system and method for testing the integrity of an in vivo bone
US4754763A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 17, 1987 |
| Grant date | Jul 5, 1988 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 17, 2007 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61B5/7257
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A noninvasive method of testing the integrity of an in vivo bone, to determine either the possible existence of a fracture or the progress of healing of a fracture, comprises placing an electrical vibration transducer against the exterior of the soft tissue surrounding the bone, including a mechanical vibration in the bone by striking it with a reflex hammer, and producing an electrical signal from the transducer representative of the mechanical vibration thus induced in the bone. The resonant frequency and the energy concentration at the resonant frequency exhibited by the mechanical vibration are both determined from the electrical signal, and first visual indicia variably responsive to the resonant frequency and second visual indicia variably responsive to the energy concentration are displayed. Preferably, these are both normalized indicia representing ratios between the resonant frequency and energy concentration, respectively, of the tested bone and respective reference values representative of the resonant frequency and energy concentration, respectively, of a known intact bone of the same type. Such testing is performed at different times during the fracture healing process…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.