Design of BMD Measurement System Based on FPGA

In order to diagnose Osteoporosis (OP), it is important to get the information of the bone mineral density (BMD). The Quantitative Ultrasound (QUS) measurement is proved to be a reliable method for detecting the BMD. Broadband Ultrasonic Attenuation (BUA) and Speed of Sound (SOS) are two important parameters of the QUS. Based on the QUS theory and the technology of FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), we introduce the BMD measurement system to measure the values of BUA and SOS. This system includes the ultrasonic bone density instrument and software process method. The weak signal of measurement is amplified, filtered, detected, received and processed in this system. Through a mass of experiments on people in different age groups, it indicates that this system is effective in detecting quantitative ultrasound parameters and is able to meet the need of Osteoporosis diagnosis.