Patent ID: 6015383
Filing Date: 2000-01-18
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
A system for externally providing a measurement in a vertebrate subject of the characteristic behavior of an acoustic wave in a bone disposed within a foot having a longitudinal axis, the system comprising:a. a base having a surface for receiving the sole of the foot;b. first and second transducers mountable in spaced relationship with respect to the bone;c. signal excitation means for causing the first transducer to produce an acoustic waveform that is propagated into the subject and received by the second transducer along a path that includes the bone;d. characteristic determination means for determining a characteristic of the behavior of the waveform along the path;e. a display for displaying outputs of the characteristic determination means;f. a first assembly containing the base and the transducers; andg. a second assembly, containing the display, that is hand-holdable and permits the measurement to be taken while holding the second assembly in one hand of the user,wherein the signal excitation means and the characteristic determination means are collectively contained within the first and second assemblies.