Ultrasound analysis technique for bone uses transmitter and multiple receivers producing matrix for analysis and deduction of bone characteristics

摘要

The ultrasound probe consists of an ultrasound transmitter (3) and a series of receivers (4) distributed closely along the propagation direction. The excitation level is read on each receiver (4) at each sampling time, thereby providing a spatio-temporal image of the excitations of the receivers. This is analyzed using a Fourier transform, leading to a curve whose shape allows deduction of bone properties. The ultrasound process uses a probe consisting of at least one ultrasound transmitter (3) and a series of receivers (4) distributed relatively closely along the propagation direction. Ultrasound excitations are applied, and the excitation level is read on each receiver (4) at each sampling time, thereby providing a spatio-temporal image of the excitations of the receivers. The image is a matrix within which each column may, for example, correspond to one receiver, and each line may correspond to one sampling time. The matrix is processed with a digital bi-directional Fourier transform to obtain a spatial frequency-temporal frequency diagram. On this diagram the various vibratory modes generated by excitation of the observed medium form curves, and some geometrical features of these curves enable geometrical or mechanical characteristics of the observed medium to be deduced.