title: The effect of bone structure on ultrasonic attenuation and velocity.
abstract: The relationship between the structure of bovine cancellous bone, and its ultrasonic propagation parameters is investigated by means of a novel technique involving the application of large static loads, thereby changing the porosity in a controlled manner. The results show that for frequencies in the range 0.4 to 1 MHz, porosity decreases up to 35% are associated with a reduction in attenuation of up to 500%, whereas the velocity increases by roughly 35% for the same changes. The data taken overall suggest that in determining the ultrasonic attenuation coefficient at these frequencies, the amount of material in a given bone section is significantly less important than the distribution of that material.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Bone and Body Composition, Academic Unit of Medical Physics, University of Leeds, Leeds General Infirmary, UK.
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Tavakoli
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Evans
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002417:Cattle; D005269:Femur / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D016062:Porosity; D011859:Radiography; D014465:Ultrasonics; D014463:Ultrasonography