ASSESSMENT OF BONE QUALITY BY ULTRASOUND WAVE-PROPAGATION TECHNIQUE

Assessment of bone quality has been done by measuring propagation spee d and attenuation coefficient between 0.6 and 1.2 MHz, using a broad b and transducer (insertion technique, transmission mode) of fundamental frequency 1.0 MHz. The measurements have been done as a function of d ensity of bone. It has been observed that in the case of cadaver bones of aged patient, bone density varies between 1.728 and 1.923 g/cc for different portions of the bone. The propagation speed and attenuation coefficient vary in the range 2580-3140 m/s and 10.89-13.78 dB/cm (at 0.6 MHz), respectively. It has been observed that a change in density by 0.01 g/cc brings velocity change up to 30-35 m/s. Velocity density relationship is linear and also, attenuation coefficient and density are well correlated in the frequency range 0.6-1.2 MHz.