Method and an apparatus for investigating material properties of bone using ultrasound

摘要

A method for investigating the mechanical properties of bone inside a live animal or human being, said method comprises launching an ultrasound pulse wave into the body of the being and establishing a trace related to the magnitude of a reflected ultrasound wave versus the time lapsed since the launching of the pulse wave. On the trace an interval in which the magnitude of the reflected ultrasound wave exhibits a steady decline versus time, is identified, and the attenuation of the ultrasound wave based on the readings of the trace within this interval is computed. The invention also provides an apparatus for adapted for providing diagnostic information concerning the mechanical properties of bone.