Detection of trabecular bones´ axis for accurate diagnosis of osteoporosis by analyzing scattered ultrasonic waves

Describes the first successful estimation of both the axis direction and the interval of trabecular bone for human heel in-vivo. This is needed to estimate the thickness and the interval of trabecular bone analyzing the ultrasonic scattered by the cancellous bone. When trabecular bone axis is normal to the detecting plane, the significant peaked signals are detected in frequency domain. The frequency, where the significant peaked signals can be detected, is varied with the scattering angle and can be calculated by the scattering function. The transmitting transducer (center frequency; 2.25 MHz/diameter; 1 inch) and the receiving transducer (center frequency; 2.25 MHz/diameter; 0.5 inch) are used in the water tank. The pulsed burst electric signal drives the transmitting transducer, and the movable receiving transducer detects the ultrasound scattered by the specimen. The proposed procedure is applied for some human heels in-vivo and the estimated values of the interval are about 1.6 mm. This value is reasonable for human heels