Abstract: In the ultrasonic bone testing apparatus disclosed herein, a pair of ultrasonic transducer assemblies are brought into contact with opposite sides of a patient's foot and each of the transducer assemblies includes, as an acoustic waveguide, a liquid filled bladder. The foot engaging end of each bladder is formed as a laterally projecting rounded cone so that, as the transducer assemblies are brought into contact with the foot, air is progressively and totally excluded from an enlarging area of contact. One or both of the transducer assemblies can be scanned with a small circular motion so that a variety of locations of the patient's foot can be sampled and the response can be analyzed.

Abstract: The body member positioning apparatus disclosed herein operates to clamp a body member, such as a foot, in relation to a fixture, e.g. such as may be used for ultrasonic bone testing. A shell member is provided which conforms to the expected shape of the body member with a space therebetween, this space being filled with a compliant foam liner. An inflatable bladder or bellows operates between a stationary housing part and a movable housing part to which the shell member is attached so that, by inflating the bladder, a clamping pressure can be exerted against a body member positioned between the shell and the fixture.