Ultrasound and the biomechanical competence of bone

Author

Nicholson, Patrick H F

Author_Institution

Dept. of Health Sci., Univ. of Jyvaskyla, Jyvaskyla

Volume

55

Issue

7

fYear

2008

fDate

7/1/2008 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

1539

Lastpage

1545

Abstract

Ultrasound is a mechanical wave and consequently has a unique potential to characterize the mechanical properties of bone. In some applications, such as determination of the anisotropic elastic constants of cortical bone specimens, this potential has been realized. In other applications, including the hugely important field of clinical measurements, current ultrasonic techniques struggle to provide information directly relating to mechanical properties. This article reviews the successes and shortcomings of ultrasound as a tool for determination of bone mechanical properties and highlights those new developments likely to bring progress in the future.

Keywords

biomechanics; biomedical measurement; biomedical ultrasonics; bone; brain; elastic constants; neurophysiology; anisotropic elastic constants; biomechanical competence; bone; clinical measurements; cortical bone; mechanical properties; mechanical wave; ultrasonic techniques; ultrasound competence; Acoustic measurements; Anisotropic magnetoresistance; Area measurement; Bones; Density measurement; Mechanical factors; Mineralization; Minerals; Ultrasonic imaging; Ultrasonic variables measurement; Algorithms; Biomechanics; Bone Density; Bone and Bones; Computer Simulation; Elastic Modulus; Elasticity Imaging Techniques; Humans; Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; Models, Biological; Scattering, Radiation; Stress, Mechanical; Ultrasonography;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Ultrasonics, Ferroelectrics, and Frequency Control, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0885-3010

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/TUFFC.2008.830

Filename

4559652