Metra Biosystems, Inc.

Osteo Sciences Corporation

David Butt

Jeffrey H Goll

Hartwell H Whitney

Joe P Buhler

Neldon C Wagner

Stuart H Rowan

Harold R McCartor

An improved apparatus and method for providing a measurement of the characteristic behavior of an acoustic wave in a bone of a subject. A preferred embodiment has first and second transducers and a mounting arrangement for mounting the transducers in spaced relationship with respect to the bone. The first transducer may transmit acoustic energy over a broad solid angle, thereby behaving as a point source of acoustic energy. Additionally or alternatively, the second transducer may collect acoustic energy over a broad solid angle, thereby behaving as a point receiver. A signal processor in communication with the second transducer provides a measurement that is a function of at least one of transient spectral or transient temporal components of the signal received by the second transducer.

Acoustic analysis of bone using point-source-like transducers

An improved apparatus and method for providing a measurement of the characteristic behavior of an acoustic wave in a bone of a subject. A preferred embodiment has a first assembly containing mounting means for mounting two transducers in spaced relationship with respect to the bone, and a second, hand-holdable assembly containing a display for displaying an output characterizing the behavior of the acoustic wave in the bone. In other embodiments of the invention, an acoustic signal propagated along a path through the bone is processed to determine the proximity of the path to an edge of the bone.

Apparatus and method for acoustic analysis of bone

An apparatus and method determine externally in a vertebrate subject an index of porosity and non-connectivity of a bone. A preferred embodiment has first and second transducers and a mounting arrangement for mounting the transducers in spaced relationship with respect to the bone. A signal generator,in communication with the first transducer, causes the first transducer to produce acoustic signals, having energy distributed over a frequency range, that are propagated into the subject and received by the second transducer along a path the includes the bone. Finally, the embodiment has a signal processor, in communication with the second transducer, for providing a measurement that is a function of at least one of spectral or temporal components of the sisal received by the second transducer. The transducers act like a point source and point receiver.

Apparatus and method for acoustic analysis of bone using optimized

An apparatus and method for acoustic analysis of bone are disclosed which provide measurements of transient spectral or temporal characteristics using signal processing techniques, wherein ultrasonic bone index value measurements are derived so as to minimize differences among successive measurements taken of the same individual and to maximize differences in measurements taken of different individuals and provide outputs indicating the condition of bone.

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Beaverton, OR, United States of America

David Butt