The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 05, 1988
Filed:
Jun. 17, 1987
Harvey H Doemland, Lawrence, KS (US);
Noninvasive Technology, Inc., Portland, OR (US);
Abstract
A noninvasive method of testing the integrity of an in vivo bone, to determine either the possible existence of a fracture or the progress of healing of a fracture, comprises placing an electrical vibration transducer against the exterior of the soft tissue surrounding the bone, including a mechanical vibration in the bone by striking it with a reflex hammer, and producing an electrical signal from the transducer representative of the mechanical vibration thus induced in the bone. The resonant frequency and the energy concentration at the resonant frequency exhibited by the mechanical vibration are both determined from the electrical signal, and first visual indicia variably responsive to the resonant frequency and second visual indicia variably responsive to the energy concentration are displayed. Preferably, these are both normalized indicia representing ratios between the resonant frequency and energy concentration, respectively, of the tested bone and respective reference values representative of the resonant frequency and energy concentration, respectively, of a known intact bone of the same type. Such testing is performed at different times during the fracture healing process, and the results of the different tests are displayed simultaneously to show progress. Apparatus for carrying out the process is also disclosed.