A possible method of monitoring bone fracture and bone characteristics using a noninvasive acoustic technique

This paper presents results from a feasibility study to explore the possibility of designing a simple noninvasive instrument to detect and monitor changes in bone characteristics in vivo. An acoustic method is used in which a gentle controllable impact produces acoustic waves which travel through the flesh and into the bone. An accelerometer is used, close to the impact area and an amplitude/frequency response is processed and recorded. By applying this procedure to parts of the body, and comparing good and damaged limbs, fractures and severity of fractures can be recognised. In particular the monitoring of bone healing processes would be of considerable benefit to the patient and doctor. This simple method, without any attempt to optimise components or technique has yielded results that show repeatable significant differences in bone character and damage, in laboratory experiments and on human patients in vivo