Method and apparatus for ultrasonic analysis of bone strength in vivo

Claim 1

A method for directing an ultrasonic signal along a desired ultrasonic path through a member, the ultrasonic signal being capable of propagating along a plurality of ultrasonic paths and the member interacting with ultrasonic signals differently along each of the plurality of paths, the method comprising the steps of: (a) positioning an ultrasonic transmitter and an ultrasonic receiver proximate the member to establish a direct ultrasonic path between said transmitter and said receiver approximately along said desired path; (b) launching an ultrasonic signal into the member toward the receiver; (c) receiving the launched ultrasonic signal after it propagates through the member and producing a received electronic signal representative of the ultrasonic signal received by said receiver; (d) signal conditioning said received electronic signal to produce a conditioned electronic waveform; (e) comparing selected characteristics of the conditioned electronic waveform with corresponding selected characteristics of a canonical waveform, said canonical waveform being obtained due to the interaction of the member with said launched ultrasonic signal as said launched ultrasonic signal propagates at least along said desired path through the member; and (f) repositioning said transmitter and said receiver at different orientations relative to the member to establish different ultrasonic pathways until said selected characteristics of said conditioned electronic waveform are substantially the same as said corresponding selected characteristics of said canonical waveform, thereby indicating that said ultrasonic signal launched from said transmitter has propagated along at least said desired path to said receiver.

Claim 2

A method for directing an ultrasonic signal along a desired ultrasonic path through a member, the ultrasonic signal being capable of propagating along a plurality of ultrasonic paths and the member interacting with ultrasonic signals differently along each of the plurality of paths, the method comprising the steps of: (a) positioning an ultrasonic transmitter and an ultrasonic receiver proximate the member to establish a direct ultrasonic path between said transmitter and said receiver approximately along said desired path; (b) launching an ultrasonic signal into the member toward the receiver; (c) receiving the launched ultrasonic signal after it propagates through the member and producing a received electronic signal representative of the ultrasonic signal received by said receiver; (d) signal conditioning said received electronic signal to produce a conditioned electronic waveform; (e) comparing selected characteristics of the conditioned electronic waveform with corresponding selected characteristics of a canonical waveform, said canonical waveform being obtained due to the interaction of the member with said launched ultrasonic signal as said launched ultrasonic signal propagates at least along said desired path through the member; and (f) repositioning said transmitter and said receiver at different orientations relative to the member to establish different ultrasonic pathways until said selected characteristics of said conditioned electronic waveform are substantially the same as said corresponding selected characteristics of said canonical waveform, thereby indicating that said ultrasonic signal launched from said transmitter has propagated along at least said desired path to said receiver.

Claim 3

A method of establishing the strength of a member, comprising the steps of: (a) launching an ultrasonic signal through the member from the transmitter; (b) receiving at a receiver the ultrasonic signal after it propagates through the member, the received ultrasonic signal including a component that propagates along a desired path through the member and one or more additional components that propagate through the member along one or more other paths at least one of the additional components arriving at the receiver before the component that propagates along the desired path arrives at the receiver; (c) determining the time at which the component that propagated along the desired paths is received, (d) measuring a propagation time of the component of the ultrasonic signal that propagates along the desired path through the member as the time elapsed between launching the ultrasonic signal and receiving the component of the received ultrasonic signal that propagates through the member along the desired path; and (e) computing a value for the apparent velocity of the component of the received ultrasonic signal that propagates through the member along the desired path by dividing a determined distance between said receiver and said transmitter by the measured propagation time, the apparent velocity being related to the strength of the member.

Claim 4

A method of establishing the strength of a member, comprising the steps of: (a) launching an ultrasonic signal through the member from the transmitter; (b) receiving at a receiver the ultrasonic signal after it propagates through the member, the received ultrasonic signal including a component that propagates along a desired path through the member and one or more additional components that propagate through the member along one or more other paths at least one of the additional components arriving at the receiver before the component that propagates along the desired path arrives at the receiver; (c) determining the time at which the component that propagated along the desired paths is received, (d) measuring a propagation time of the component of the ultrasonic signal that propagates along the desired path through the member as the time elapsed between launching the ultrasonic signal and receiving the component of the received ultrasonic signal that propagates through the member along the desired path; and (e) computing a value for the apparent velocity of the component of the received ultrasonic signal that propagates through the member along the desired path by dividing a determined distance between said receiver and said transmitter by the measured propagation time, the apparent velocity being related to the strength of the member.

Claim 5

A method for directing an ultrasonic signal along a desired path through a member to determine the strength of a member, the ultrasonic signal being capable of propagating along a plurality of ultrasonic paths, including along a desired ultrasonic path through the member with the member interacting with ultrasonic signals differently along each of the plurality of paths, the method comprising the steps of: (a) positioning an ultrasonic transmitter and an ultrasonic receiver, separated by an interprobe distance, proximate the member to establish a direct ultrasonic path between said transmitter and said receiver approximately along said desired path; (b) launching an ultrasonic signal into the member toward the receiver; (c) receiving the launched ultrasonic signal after it propagates through the member and producing a received electronic signal representative of the ultrasonic signal received by said receiver; (d) signal conditioning said received electronic signal to produce a conditioned electronic waveform; (e) comparing selected characteristics of the conditioned electronic waveform with corresponding selected characteristics of a canonical waveform, said canonical waveform being obtained due to the interaction of the member with said launched ultrasonic signal as said launched ultrasonic signal propagates at least along said desired path through the member; (f) repositioning said transmitter and said receiver at different orientations relative to the member to establish different ultrasonic pathways until said selected characteristics of said conditioned electronic waveform are substantially the same as said selected characteristics of said canonical waveform, thereby indicating that said ultrasonic signal launched from said transmitter has propagated along at least said desired path to said receiver; (g) measuring a propagation time for the component of the ultrasonic signal that propagates through the member along the desired path as the time elapsed between launching the ultrasonic signal and receiving the component of the received ultrasonic signal that propagates through the member along the desired path; and (h) computing a value for the apparent velocity of the component of the received ultrasonic signal that propagates through the member along the desired path by dividing said interprobe distance by the measured propagation time, the apparent velocity being related to the strength of the member.

Claim 6

A method for directing an ultrasonic signal along a desired path through a member to determine the strength of a member, the ultrasonic signal being capable of propagating along a plurality of ultrasonic paths, including along a desired ultrasonic path through the member with the member interacting with ultrasonic signals differently along each of the plurality of paths, the method comprising the steps of: (a) positioning an ultrasonic transmitter and an ultrasonic receiver, separated by an interprobe distance, proximate the member to establish a direct ultrasonic path between said transmitter and said receiver approximately along said desired path; (b) launching an ultrasonic signal into the member toward the receiver; (c) receiving the launched ultrasonic signal after it propagates through the member and producing a received electronic signal representative of the ultrasonic signal received by said receiver; (d) signal conditioning said received electronic signal to produce a conditioned electronic waveform; (e) comparing selected characteristics of the conditioned electronic waveform with corresponding selected characteristics of a canonical waveform, said canonical waveform being obtained due to the interaction of the member with said launched ultrasonic signal as said launched ultrasonic signal propagates at least along said desired path through the member; (f) repositioning said transmitter and said receiver at different orientations relative to the member to establish different ultrasonic pathways until said selected characteristics of said conditioned electronic waveform are substantially the same as said selected characteristics of said canonical waveform, thereby indicating that said ultrasonic signal launched from said transmitter has propagated along at least said desired path to said receiver; (g) measuring a propagation time for the component of the ultrasonic signal that propagates through the member along the desired path as the time elapsed between launching the ultrasonic signal and receiving the component of the received ultrasonic signal that propagates through the member along the desired path; and (h) computing a value for the apparent velocity of the component of the received ultrasonic signal that propagates through the member along the desired path by dividing said interprobe distance by the measured propagation time, the apparent velocity being related to the strength of the member.

Claim 14

A method as recited in claims 1, 2 or 3 wherein said step of launching an ultrasonic signal through the member includes the step of launching an ultrasonic signal through a bone, in vivo, surrounded by soft tissue.

Claim 23

A method as recited in claims 1 or 3 wherein: said step of launching an ultrasonic signal through the member includes the step of launching an ultrasonic signal through a bone, in vivo, surrounded by soft tissue; said receiving step includes the step of receiving an ultrasonic signal that includes a first portion and a second portion, said first portion of said received ultrasonic signal corresponding to a component of the ultrasonic signal that propagates along a path through the bone and the second portion of the received ultrasonic signal corresponding to a component of the ultrasonic signal that propagates along at least a path through said bone and a path through said soft tissue; and said comparing step includes the step of attempting to locate first and second portions in said electronic waveform, said first and second portions having first and second distinguishable measured characteristics, respectively, which are similar to said selected characteristics of said canonical waveform.

Claim 25

An apparatus for directing an ultrasonic signal along a desired ultrasonic path through a member, the ultrasonic signal being capable of propagating along a plurality of ultrasonic paths with the member interacting with the ultrasonic signal differently along each of the plurality of paths, the apparatus comprising: (a) an ultrasonic transmitter and an ultrasonic receiver positioned proximate the member to establish a direct ultrasonic path between said transmitter and said receiver approximately along said desired path, said transmitter including means for launching a launched ultrasonic signal into the member toward the receiver, and said receiver including means for receiving the launched ultrasonic signal after it propagates through the member and producing a received electronic signal representative of the ultrasonic signal received by said receiver; (b) signal conditioning means in communication with said receiver for adjusting said received electronic signal to form a conditioned electronic waveform; and (c) comparing means, coupled to said signal conditioning means, for permitting comparison of selected characteristics of the conditioned electronic waveform with corresponding selected characteristics of a canonical waveform, said canonical waveform being obtained due to the interaction of the member with said launched ultrasonic signal as said launched ultrasonic signal propagates at least along the desired path through the member, said comparing means permitting comparison of said selected characteristics of said conditioned electronic waveform with said corresponding selected characteristics of said canonical waveform, whereby said transmitter and said receiver can be repositioned at different orientations relative to the member to establish different ultrasonic pathways until said selected characteristics of said conditioned electronic waveform are substantially the same as said selected characteristics of said canonical waveform, thereby indicating that said ultrasonic signal launched from said transmitter has propagated along at least said desired path to said receiver.

Claim 26

An apparatus for directing an ultrasonic signal along a desired ultrasonic path through a member, the ultrasonic signal being capable of propagating along a plurality of ultrasonic paths with the member interacting with the ultrasonic signal differently along each of the plurality of paths, the apparatus comprising: (a) an ultrasonic transmitter and an ultrasonic receiver positioned proximate the member to establish a direct ultrasonic path between said transmitter and said receiver approximately along said desired path, said transmitter including means for launching a launched ultrasonic signal into the member toward the receiver, and said receiver including means for receiving the launched ultrasonic signal after it propagates through the member and producing a received electronic signal representative of the ultrasonic signal received by said receiver; (b) signal conditioning means in communication with said receiver for adjusting said received electronic signal to form a conditioned electronic waveform; and (c) comparing means, coupled to said signal conditioning means, for permitting comparison of selected characteristics of the conditioned electronic waveform with corresponding selected characteristics of a canonical waveform, said canonical waveform being obtained due to the interaction of the member with said launched ultrasonic signal as said launched ultrasonic signal propagates at least along the desired path through the member, said comparing means permitting comparison of said selected characteristics of said conditioned electronic waveform with said corresponding selected characteristics of said canonical waveform, whereby said transmitter and said receiver can be repositioned at different orientations relative to the member to establish different ultrasonic pathways until said selected characteristics of said conditioned electronic waveform are substantially the same as said selected characteristics of said canonical waveform, thereby indicating that said ultrasonic signal launched from said transmitter has propagated along at least said desired path to said receiver.

Claim 27

An apparatus for directing an ultrasonic signal along a desired ultrasonic path through a member to establish the strength of the member, the ultrasonic signal being capable of propagating along a plurality of ultrasonic paths with the member interacting with the ultrasonic signal differently along each of the plurality of paths, the apparatus comprising: (a) an ultrasonic transmitter and an ultrasonic receiver positioned proximate the member to establish a direct ultrasonic path between said transmitter and said receiver approximately along said desired path, said transmitter including means for launching a launched ultrasonic signal into the member toward the receiver, and said receiver including means for receiving the launched ultrasonic signal after it propagates through the member and producing a received electronic signal representative of the ultrasonic signal received by said receiver; (b) signal conditioning means in communication with said receiver for adjusting said received electronic signal to form a conditioned electronic waveform; (c) comparing means, coupled to said signal conditioning means, for permitting comparison of selected characteristics of the conditioned electronic waveform with known selected characteristics of a canonical waveform, said canonical waveform being obtained due to the interaction of the member with said launched ultrasonic signal as said launched ultrasonic signal propagates at least along the desired path through the member; and (d) computing means, responsive to said comparing means, for measuring a propagation time for the desired ultrasonic signal through the member as the time elapsed between the launching of said ultrasonic signal and the receiving of the component of the received ultrasonic signal that propagates through the member along the desired path, and for computing a value for the apparent velocity of the component of the received ultrasonic signal that propagates through the member along the desired path by dividing a determined distance between said receiver and said transmitter by the measured propagation time, said apparent velocity being related to the strength of the member.

Claim 28

An apparatus for directing an ultrasonic signal along a desired ultrasonic path through a member to establish the strength of the member, the ultrasonic signal being capable of propagating along a plurality of ultrasonic paths with the member interacting with the ultrasonic signal differently along each of the plurality of paths, the apparatus comprising: (a) an ultrasonic transmitter and an ultrasonic receiver positioned proximate the member to establish a direct ultrasonic path between said transmitter and said receiver approximately along said desired path, said transmitter including means for launching a launched ultrasonic signal into the member toward the receiver, and said receiver including means for receiving the launched ultrasonic signal after it propagates through the member and producing a received electronic signal representative of the ultrasonic signal received by said receiver; (b) signal conditioning means in communication with said receiver for adjusting said received electronic signal to form a conditioned electronic waveform; (c) comparing means, coupled to said signal conditioning means, for permitting comparison of selected characteristics of the conditioned electronic waveform with known selected characteristics of a canonical waveform, said canonical waveform being obtained due to the interaction of the member with said launched ultrasonic signal as said launched ultrasonic signal propagates at least along the desired path through the member; and (d) computing means, responsive to said comparing means, for measuring a propagation time for the desired ultrasonic signal through the member as the time elapsed between the launching of said ultrasonic signal and the receiving of the component of the received ultrasonic signal that propagates through the member along the desired path, and for computing a value for the apparent velocity of the component of the received ultrasonic signal that propagates through the member along the desired path by dividing a determined distance between said receiver and said transmitter by the measured propagation time, said apparent velocity being related to the strength of the member.