Numerical simulation of high-frequency ultrasound scattering on articular cartilage cellular structure

In this study, numerical simulations of high-frequency ultrasonic waves backscattered from the cartilage are presented. The cartilage layer is attached to the bone and immersed in water. In order to investigate the effect of periodic cell structure in the superficial cartilage layer on the ultrasound backscattered signals, two-dimensional numerical models were developed. It was shown that the frequency dependence of the cartilage backscattered signals is closely related to the distances between cells, chondrocytes. The presented results are promising for the development of a new non-invasive method for the quantitative assessment of cellular features that may be related to the degree of the cartilage tissue degeneration.