Comparison of three ultrasonic axial transmission methods for bone assessment.

Abstract This study compared three approaches to bone assessment using ultrasonic axial transmission. In 41 fresh human radii, velocity of the first arriving signal was measured with a commercial device (Sunlight Omnisense ™ ) operating at 1.25 MHz, a prototype based on 1-MHz bidirectional axial transmission and a low-frequency (200 kHz) prototype, also measuring the velocity of a slower wave. Cortical and trabecular bone mineral density, cortical thickness and cross-sectional area were determined by peripheral quantitative computed tomography. Significant but modest correlation between velocities reflects differences in the nature of the propagating waves and methodological differences. Of…