Rapid and Accurate Detection of Bone Quality Using Ultrasound Critical Angle Reflectometry

Abstract

The present invention is an apparatus, method and system for determining the coefficient of elasticity of a target by detecting an ultracritical reflection of ultrasound waves directed at the target using an ultrasound transducer at two or more angles simultaneously and calculating the elasticity coefficient of the target.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION[0001]This application claims priority to provisional patent application Ser. No. 60 / 487,334, filed Jul. 15, 2003, and co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 630,330 filed Jul. 30, 2003, to issue as U.S. Pat. No. 7,611,465 on Nov. 3, 2009.TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates in general to the field of bone quality determination, and more particularly, to the rapid and accurate measurement of elasticity coefficients, in vivo of cortical and trabecular bone.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]Without limiting the scope of the invention, its background is described in connection with bone density measurements, as an example.[0004]Need for Non-Invasive Measurement of Bone Quality. Osteoporosis is a major medical problem, with a large percentage of elderly persons being susceptible to sustain non-traumatic fractures (bone fractures from minimum trauma). Bone strength is a primary predictor of bone fractures. Bone s...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008]The apparatus, method and system of the present invention use ultrasound critical angle reflectometry to improve patient care. The present invention is used to make the measurement of critical bone density information practical and faster than in previous devices, and expands the method to take explicitly into account the anisotropy of bone, assumed to be hexagonally symmetric. The device is designed to make measurements at multiple sites of bone. An integral part of the device is a robotic gantry of specific design, constructed to permit the rapid determination of the “normal” to bone and to automate the measurement of spectra at different orientations. The normal to bone must be determined with considerable accuracy, as it represents the initial angle (degrees) in the angular system, and thus dominates the accuracy of the measurement. Using this gantry, once the normal has been determined, the head can be rotated using the normal as the axis of rotation to obtain the spectra at different orientations. This activity is now rapid and automated. When made for a specific site, the size of the device can be made smaller, while encompassing the same basic features.

Problems solved by technology

Osteoporosis is a major medical problem, with a large percentage of elderly persons being susceptible to sustain non-traumatic fractures (bone fractures from minimum trauma).

Recent discoveries, however, have presented situations in which severe impairment of bone quality can occur.

With long-term use, new studies suggest that these drugs can severely impair bone quality, leading to recurrent fractures that do not heal properly (Ott, J. Clin. Endo. Metab.

These patients are known to have increased susceptibility to fractures, since they probably have defective bone from taking steroids and suffer from other factors that are harmful to bone.

Images