Patent ID: 7862510
Filing Date: 2011-01-04
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A method of non-invasive and quantitative assessment of the status of a bone in a bony member in vivo for at least one of the quantities, bone-mineral density, bone mass, cortical thickness, cross-sectional area, medullar thickness, bone width, bone geometry, bone strength and bone fracture risk, comprising the steps of: (a) acoustically coupling a first transducer and a second transducer to nearby skin on opposite sides of said bony member; (b) generating an ultrasound signal and directing said ultrasound signal from said first transducer to said second transducer through said bony member to obtain at least one bone-oriented output signal; (c) processing said at least one bone-oriented output signal to obtain at least two net time delays, wherein one of said at least two net time delays comprises a difference between a first time delay τ (d) further processing said at least two net time delays, whereby an estimate of said at least one of the quantities, bone-mineral density, bone mass, cortical thickness, cross-sectional area, medullar thickness, bone width, bone geometry, bone strength and bone fracture risk, is obtained.