title: An in vitro study of ultrasound signal loss across simple fractures in cortical bone mimics and bovine cortical bone samples.
abstract: Measurements have been performed on Sawbones and bovine cortical bone samples at 200 kHz using an axial transmission technique to investigate the factors that determine how ultrasonic waves propagate across a simulated fracture. The peak amplitude of the first arrival signal (FAS) was studied. Results taken from intact specimens were compared with those produced when a simple transverse fracture was introduced. These fracture simulation experiments were found to be consistent with Finite Difference modelling of the experimental conditions. The peak amplitude showed a characteristic variation across the fracture caused by interference between reradiated and scattered/diffracted waves at the fracture site and a net Fracture Transmission Loss (FTL). For small fracture gaps, the change in amplitude was sensitive to the presence of the fracture. This sensitivity suggests that this parameter could be a good quantitative indicator for the fracture healing process assuming the relative change in this parameter brought about by healing is measurable.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Orthopaedic Biomechanics, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Bath, Bath, Avon, UK.
authors.forename: S P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Dodd
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Cunningham
authors.forename: A W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Miles
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gheduzzi
authors.forename: V F
authors.initials: VF
authors.lastname: Humphrey
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018786:Bone Substitutes; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002417:Cattle; D017102:Fracture Healing / Q000502:physiology*; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D014465:Ultrasonics; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D018786:Bone Substitutes