ULTRASOUND VELOCITY-MEASUREMENT IN LONG BONES - MEASUREMENT METHOD AND SIMULATION OF ULTRASOUND WAVE-PROPAGATION

A new method for the measurement of ultrasound velocity in long bones is presented. The method can be applied in vitro as well as in vivo. I t automatically corrects for the influence of soft tissue, such that t he real velocity in bone is obtained. In a series of simulation experi ments, hypotheses on the followed wave path were verified. A very good agreement was found between the measurement obtained in the experimen tal set-up and the values calculated for the hypothesised wave path in the experimental structure. These simulations revealed the feasibilit y of the technique to determine the velocity in a local site of the st ructure. Clinical applications of this technique include the monitorin g of callus consolidation after fracture and the detection of bone deg enerative diseases such as osteoporosis. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier S cience Ltd.