Abstract
A new technique for estimating in vivo bone mineral density and mechanical integrity has been proposed using the results of ultrasonic inspection for the diagnosis of osteoporosis. The technique firstly evaluates that two-dimensional solid area fraction of bone (S, percent bone area fraction between bone and bone marrow) calculated from the difference in the speed of ultrasonic wave propagation through cancellous bone. Secondly, mechanical integrity (Young's modulus and strength) is calculated using finite element analysis for the cancellous bone with the bone area fraction (S) evaluated by the ultrasonic testing. The periodic estimation of the bulk Young's modulus and strength applying the technique proposed here could be used to predict the fracture risk for in vivo bone. Since there is a good relationship between the BMD (bone mineral density) by DXA (dual energy x-ray absorptiometry) and the bone area fraction by ultrasonic testing, the technique also allows the estimation of in vivo BMD of the spine which has been traditionally used to diagnose osteoporosis.
