Patent ID: 7942819
Filing Date: 2011-05-17
Classification: A61B,G01H,G01N

Abstract:
1. An ultrasonic bone evaluation apparatus for evaluating bone of a body part based on the speed of sound propagating therethrough, the ultrasonic bone evaluation apparatus comprising: a pair of standoffs having contact surfaces respectively and fitted with respective ultrasonic transducers for transmitting and receiving ultrasound, said standoffs being disposed face to face with each other; a moving mechanism for moving at least one of said two standoffs so that the body part is in contact with the contact surfaces of the two standoffs; a distance measuring device for measuring the distance between the contact surfaces of the standoffs when the body part is in contact with the contact surfaces of said two standoffs; a time measuring device for measuring the time required for the ultrasound to travel in the body part; a temperature measuring device for measuring the temperature of the body part sandwiched between said two standoffs; and a processor configured to correct the speed of sound propagating through the body part based on the temperature thereof measured by said temperature measuring device and to evaluate the bone of the body part by using the speed of sound thus corrected.