Characterisation of the cartilage/bone interface utilising reflectance spectroscopy

Optical reflection spectra of the cartilage/bone interface from hip joints of cows were studied. When comparing to ultrasonic measurement, it was found that cartilage thickness could be extracted using optical reflectance spectroscopy. For thicker cartilage layers, a high reflection for the wavelengths 400-600 nm was seen, and for thinner cartilage layers, the characteristic spectra of blood and bone dominated. The optical reflectance spectra may be used to characterise cartilage, and specifically cartilage thickness, in connection with in situ diagnosis or autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI).