MEASUREMENT OF SHEAR-WAVE VELOCITY BY ULTRASOUND CRITICAL-ANGLE REFLECTOMETRY (UCR)

There exists a growing body of research that relates the measurement o f pressure-wave velocity in bone to different physiological conditions and treatment modalities, The shear-wave velocity has been less studi ed, although it is necessary for a more complete understanding of the mechanical properties of bone, Ultrasound critical-angle reflectometry (UCR) is a noninvasive and nondestructive technique previously used t o measure pressure-wave velocities both in vitro and in vivo, This not e describes its application to the measurement of shear-wave velocity in bone, whether directly accessible or covered by soft tissue, (C) 19 97 World Federation for Ultrasound in Medicine & Biology.