ULTRASONIC CHARACTERIZATION IN DETERMINING ELASTIC-MODULUS OF TRABECULAR BONE MATERIAL

The pulse transmission ultrasonic technique is used to characterise th e actual pathway and the wavelength dependence in relation to the bone specimen and microstructural dimensions. The average velocity through individual trabecular bone is 2901 m s(-1) (SD 161), and the mean vel ocity through cylindrical cancellous bone specimens is 2717 m s(-1) (S D 171). Thus, the velocity through the cylindrical cancellous bone spe cimens is underestimated by as much as 6.4% of that through individual trabeculae. There is a statistically significant difference in the ul trasonic velocity between individual trabeculae and cylindrical cancel lous bone specimens (p=0.0012).