Ultrasound simulation in bone.
The manner in which ultrasound interacts with bone is of key interest in therapy and diagnosis alike. These may include applications directly to bone, as, for example, in treatment to accelerate the healing of bone fractures and in assessment of bone density in osteoporosis, or indirectly in diagnostic imaging of soft tissue with interest in assessing exposure levels to nearby bone. Because of the lack of analytic solutions to virtually every "practical problem" encountered clinically, ultrasound simulation has become a widely used technique for evaluating ultrasound interactions in bone. This paper provides an overview of the use of ultrasound simulation in bone. A brief description of the mathematical model used to characterize ultrasound propagation in bone is first provided. A number of simulation examples are then presented that explain how simulation may be utilized in a variety of practical configurations. The focus of this paper in terms of examples presented is on diagnostic applications in bone, and, in particular, for assessment of osteoporosis. However, the use of simulation in other areas of interest can easily be extrapolated from the examples presented. In conclusion, this paper describes the use of ultrasound simulation in bone and demonstrates the power of computational methods for ultrasound research in general and tissue and bone applications in particular.
Kaufman
Jonathan J
JJ
Department of Orthopedics, The Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA. jjkaufman@cyberlogic.org
Luo
Gangming
G
Siffert
Robert S
RS
D000465:Algorithms; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003198:Computer Simulation; D003720:Densitometry / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D008954:Models, Biological; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012542:Scattering, Radiation; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods*