Method and device for evaluating and characterizing the properties of bone
US5806520A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 24, 1996 |
| Grant date | Sep 15, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 24, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61B8/0875
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A method for the in vivo evaluation and characterization of the mechanical or architectural properties of bones relies on the propagation of an ultrasound wave through the bone and subsequently studying the interaction of this wave with the bone. The bone is scanned using an ultrasound beam obtained from focused transducers. Then, the signals transmitted through the bone and/or reflected by the faces of the bone and/or scattered by the internal structures of the bone are collected. The signals obtained are stored in memory. The signals thus stored are processed for measuring: the propagation velocity of the ultrasound beam in the bone; the thickness of the bone; the transmission attenuation coefficient of the ultrasound beam; and the reflection parameters for estimating the backscatter and attenuation coefficients.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.