Abstract: 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.

Abstract: An apparatus for performing a measurement that characterizes the behavior of an acoustic wave in a heel bone. The apparatus is an integral unit having a base with a platform coupled to the base at a specified angle with respect to the base for receiving, centering and reproducibly orienting a foot. The apparatus has two transducer arms, each supporting an acoustic transducer in spaced relationship with respect to the foot of the subject and a member for mounting the first and second transducer arms in moveable relationship to the base so as to permit coupled two-dimensional motion of the first and second transducers over regions of the heel. The transducer units have transducer caps and an acoustically absorbing filler medium for emitting an acoustic wave with substantially the character of a point source over an opening angle of at least 30.degree..

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: An apparatus and methods determine externally in a vertebrate subject the porosity and non-connectivity of a bone. A preferred embodiment has an acoustic transceiver with a pair of acoustic transducers disposed in a specified spatial relationship with one another, such that an acoustic signal is transmitted from one to another via the bone. The transmission path through the bone corresponding to the acoustic signal analyzed by the system may be varied, with values derived from measures of acoustic transmission through differing locations in the bone stored in different locations of a memory. A location processor is provided for selecting a target location based at least in part on the values stored in the memory for defining a region of interest with respect to which a measure of bone porosity is determined.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: An ultrasonic system for determination of bone characteristics is provided having first and second transducers in a mounting arrangement for mounting the transducers in spaced relationship with respect to the bone, the mounting arrangement including a contact arrangement for defining a stable and repeatable contact point on the body part containing the bone, such that the transducers may be biased against the body part with a substantially constant force, the contact arrangement including a plurality of contact buttons projecting in a common direction, the buttons being axially displaceable and fitted with an engagement sensing arrangement for determining contact with the body part such that operation of the device may be inhibited until proper contact is made.