Ultrasonic waveform assay for bone assessment using values mapped over a region

Claim 1

An apparatus for externally determining in a vertebrate subject an index of porosity and non-connectivity of a bone disposed within a body part, the apparatus comprising: a. an acoustic transceiver having i. a signal generator for producing, when coupled to a transducer, an acoustic pulse, having energy distributed over a frequency range and ii. a transducer assembly including a plurality of transducers and providing a pair of transducers in spaced relationship with respect to the bone, wherein a first one of the pair is coupled to the signal generator so as to provide an acoustic pulse and a second one of the pair receives an acoustic signal resulting from propagation of the acoustic pulse along a path that includes the bone, and wherein the assembly is configured so that the path may be disposed in a plurality of positions so as to pass through a plurality of locations within a selected region of the bone; b. a signal processor, in communication with the second one of the pair of transducers, for providing a measure, associated with each of the locations, that is indicative of at least one of transient spectral or transient temporal components of a portion, up to the whole amount thereof, of the signal received by the second one of the pair of transducers; c. a value memory for storing values related to the measure associated with the locations; d. a location processor for identifying a reference location based at least on a local minimum slope magnitude of the measure associated with the locations and selecting a target location having a specified relation to the reference location; and e. an output processor for providing as an output a quantity associated with the target location.

Claim 2

An apparatus for externally determining in a vertebrate subject an index of porosity and non-connectivity of a bone disposed within a body part, the apparatus comprising: a. an acoustic transceiver having i. a signal generator for producing, when coupled to a transducer, an acoustic pulse, having energy distributed over a frequency range and ii. a transducer assembly including a plurality of transducers and providing a pair of transducers in spaced relationship with respect to the bone, wherein a first one of the pair is coupled to the signal generator so as to provide an acoustic pulse and a second one of the pair receives an acoustic signal resulting from propagation of the acoustic pulse along a path that includes the bone, and wherein the assembly is configured so that the path may be disposed in a plurality of positions so as to pass through a plurality of locations within a selected region of the bone; b. a signal processor, in communication with the second one of the pair of transducers, for providing a measure, associated with each of the locations, that is indicative of at least one of transient spectral or transient temporal components of a portion, up to the whole amount thereof, of the signal received by the second one of the pair of transducers; c. a value memory for storing values related to the measure associated with the locations; d. a location processor for identifying a reference location based at least on a local minimum slope magnitude of the measure associated with the locations and selecting a target location having a specified relation to the reference location; and e. an output processor for providing as an output a quantity associated with the target location.

Claim 10

An apparatus for externally determining in a vertebrate subject an index of porosity and non-connectivity of a bone disposed within a body part, the apparatus comprising: (a) an acoustic transceiver having (i) a signal generator for producing, when coupled to a transducer, an acoustic pulse, having energy distributed over a frequency range and (ii) a transducer assembly including a plurality of transducers and providing a pair of transducers in spaced relationship with respect to the bone, wherein a first one of the pair is coupled to the signal generator so as to provide an acoustic pulse and a second one of the pair receives an acoustic signal resulting from propagation of the acoustic pulse along a path that includes the bone, and wherein the assembly is configured so that the path may be disposed in a plurality of positions so as to pass through a plurality of locations within a selected region of the bone; (b) a signal processor, in communication with the second one of the pair of transducers, for providing a measure, associated with each of the locations, that is indicative of at least one of spectral or temporal components of a portion, up to the whole amount thereof, of the signal received by the second one of the pair of transducers; (c) a value memory for storing values related to the measure associated with the locations; (d) a location processor for identifying an edge of the bone based on values in the value memory and for selecting a target location based at least in part on the values stored in the value memory; and (e) an output processor for providing as an output a quantity associated with the target location.

Claim 11

An apparatus for externally determining in a vertebrate subject an index of porosity and non-connectivity of a bone disposed within a body part, the apparatus comprising: (a) an acoustic transceiver having (i) a signal generator for producing, when coupled to a transducer, an acoustic pulse, having energy distributed over a frequency range and (ii) a transducer assembly including a plurality of transducers and providing a pair of transducers in spaced relationship with respect to the bone, wherein a first one of the pair is coupled to the signal generator so as to provide an acoustic pulse and a second one of the pair receives an acoustic signal resulting from propagation of the acoustic pulse along a path that includes the bone, and wherein the assembly is configured so that the path may be disposed in a plurality of positions so as to pass through a plurality of locations within a selected region of the bone; (b) a signal processor, in communication with the second one of the pair of transducers, for providing a measure, associated with each of the locations, that is indicative of at least one of spectral or temporal components of a portion, up to the whole amount thereof, of the signal received by the second one of the pair of transducers; (c) a value memory for storing values related to the measure associated with the locations; (d) a location processor for identifying an edge of the bone based on values in the value memory and for selecting a target location based at least in part on the values stored in the value memory; and (e) an output processor for providing as an output a quantity associated with the target location.

Claim 16

A method for externally determining in a vertebrate subject an index of porosity and non-connectivity of a bone disposed within a body part, the method comprising: a. providing an apparatus, the apparatus comprising: i. an acoustic transceiver having a signal generator for producing, when coupled to a transducer, an acoustic pulse, having energy distributed over a frequency range and a pair of transducers in spaced relationship with respect to the bone, wherein a first one of the pair is coupled to the signal generator so as to provide an acoustic pulse and a second one of the pair receives an acoustic signal resulting from propagation of the acoustic pulse along a path that includes the bone, and wherein the assembly is configured so that the path may be disposed in a plurality of positions so as to pass through a plurality of locations within a selected region of the bone; and ii. a signal processor, in communication with the second one of the pair of transducers, for providing a UBI measure, associated with each of the locations, that is indicative of at least one of spectral or temporal components of a portion, up to the whole amount thereof, of the signal received by the second one of the pair of transducers; b. storing values related to the UBI measure in a plurality of memory locations wherein each memory location is associated with at least one of the plurality of locations within the selected region of the bone; c. identifying a reference location based at least on a local minimum slope magnitude of the measure associated with the locations; d. selecting a target location having a specified relation to the reference location; and e. providing a quantity characteristic of the porosity of the bone based on at least one UBI measure associated with the target location.

Claim 17

A method for externally determining in a vertebrate subject an index of porosity and non-connectivity of a bone disposed within a body part, the method comprising: a. providing an apparatus, the apparatus comprising: i. an acoustic transceiver having a signal generator for producing, when coupled to a transducer, an acoustic pulse, having energy distributed over a frequency range and a pair of transducers in spaced relationship with respect to the bone, wherein a first one of the pair is coupled to the signal generator so as to provide an acoustic pulse and a second one of the pair receives an acoustic signal resulting from propagation of the acoustic pulse along a path that includes the bone, and wherein the assembly is configured so that the path may be disposed in a plurality of positions so as to pass through a plurality of locations within a selected region of the bone; and ii. a signal processor, in communication with the second one of the pair of transducers, for providing a UBI measure, associated with each of the locations, that is indicative of at least one of spectral or temporal components of a portion, up to the whole amount thereof, of the signal received by the second one of the pair of transducers; b. storing values related to the UBI measure in a plurality of memory locations wherein each memory location is associated with at least one of the plurality of locations within the selected region of the bone; c. identifying a reference location based at least on a local minimum slope magnitude of the measure associated with the locations; d. selecting a target location having a specified relation to the reference location; and e. providing a quantity characteristic of the porosity of the bone based on at least one UBI measure associated with the target location.

Claim 19

A method for externally determining in a vertebrate subject an index of porosity and non-connectivity of a bone disposed within a body part, the method comprising: (a) providing an apparatus, the apparatus comprising: (i) an acoustic transceiver having a signal generator for producing, when coupled to a transducer, an acoustic pulse, having energy distributed over a frequency range and a pair of transducers in spaced relationship with respect to the bone, wherein a first one of the pair is coupled to the signal generator so as to provide an acoustic pulse and a second one of the pair receives an acoustic signal resulting from propagation of the acoustic pulse along a path that includes the bone, and wherein the assembly is configured so that the path may be disposed in a plurality of positions so as to pass through a plurality of locations within a selected region of the bone; (ii) a signal processor, in communication with the second one of the pair of transducers, for providing a UBI measure, associated with each of the locations, that is indicative of at least one of spectral or temporal components of a portion, up to the whole amount thereof, of the signal received by the second one of the pair of transducers; (b) storing values related to the UBI measure in a plurality of memory locations wherein each memory location is associated with at least one of the plurality of locations within the selected region of the bone; and (c) providing a quantity characteristic of the porosity of the bone based on at least a topological signature of a spatial distribution of a UBI measure in the selected region of the bone.

Claim 20

A method for externally determining in a vertebrate subject an index of porosity and non-connectivity of a bone disposed within a body part, the method comprising: (a) providing an apparatus, the apparatus comprising: (i) an acoustic transceiver having a signal generator for producing, when coupled to a transducer, an acoustic pulse, having energy distributed over a frequency range and a pair of transducers in spaced relationship with respect to the bone, wherein a first one of the pair is coupled to the signal generator so as to provide an acoustic pulse and a second one of the pair receives an acoustic signal resulting from propagation of the acoustic pulse along a path that includes the bone, and wherein the assembly is configured so that the path may be disposed in a plurality of positions so as to pass through a plurality of locations within a selected region of the bone; (ii) a signal processor, in communication with the second one of the pair of transducers, for providing a UBI measure, associated with each of the locations, that is indicative of at least one of spectral or temporal components of a portion, up to the whole amount thereof, of the signal received by the second one of the pair of transducers; (b) storing values related to the UBI measure in a plurality of memory locations wherein each memory location is associated with at least one of the plurality of locations within the selected region of the bone; and (c) providing a quantity characteristic of the porosity of the bone based on at least a topological signature of a spatial distribution of a UBI measure in the selected region of the bone.

Claim 21

A method for characterizing a propensity of a subject to change of porosity of bone, the method comprising: (a) providing an apparatus, the apparatus comprising: i. an acoustic transceiver having a signal generator for producing, when coupled to a transducer, an acoustic pulse, having energy distributed over a frequency range and a pair of transducers in spaced relationship with respect to the bone, wherein a first one of the pair is coupled to the signal generator so as to provide an acoustic pulse and a second one of the pair receives an acoustic signal resulting from propagation of the acoustic pulse along a path that includes the bone, and wherein the assembly is configured so that the path may be disposed in a plurality of positions so as to pass through a plurality of locations within a selected region of the bone; and ii. a signal processor, in communication with the second one of the pair of transducers, for providing a UBI measure, associated with each of the locations, that is indicative of at least one of spectral or temporal components of a portion, up to the whole amount thereof, of the signal received by the second one of the pair of transducers; b) storing values related to the UBI measure in a plurality of memory locations wherein each memory location is associated with at least one of the plurality of locations within the selected region of the bone; and c) providing a quantity characteristic of the propensity of a subject to change of porosity of bone based on at least a topological signature of a spatial distribution of a UBI measure in the selected region of the bone.

Claim 22

A method for characterizing a propensity of a subject to change of porosity of bone, the method comprising: (a) providing an apparatus, the apparatus comprising: i. an acoustic transceiver having a signal generator for producing, when coupled to a transducer, an acoustic pulse, having energy distributed over a frequency range and a pair of transducers in spaced relationship with respect to the bone, wherein a first one of the pair is coupled to the signal generator so as to provide an acoustic pulse and a second one of the pair receives an acoustic signal resulting from propagation of the acoustic pulse along a path that includes the bone, and wherein the assembly is configured so that the path may be disposed in a plurality of positions so as to pass through a plurality of locations within a selected region of the bone; and ii. a signal processor, in communication with the second one of the pair of transducers, for providing a UBI measure, associated with each of the locations, that is indicative of at least one of spectral or temporal components of a portion, up to the whole amount thereof, of the signal received by the second one of the pair of transducers; b) storing values related to the UBI measure in a plurality of memory locations wherein each memory location is associated with at least one of the plurality of locations within the selected region of the bone; and c) providing a quantity characteristic of the propensity of a subject to change of porosity of bone based on at least a topological signature of a spatial distribution of a UBI measure in the selected region of the bone.

Claim 23

An apparatus for externally determining in a vertebrate subject an index of porosity and non-connectivity of a bone disposed within a body part, the apparatus comprising: a. an acoustic transceiver having i. a signal generator for producing, when coupled to a transducer, an acoustic pulse, having energy distributed over a frequency range and ii. a transducer assembly including a plurality of transducers and providing a pair of transducers in spaced relationship with respect to the bone, wherein a first one of the pair is coupled to the signal generator so as to provide an acoustic pulse and a second one of the pair receives an acoustic signal resulting from propagation of the acoustic pulse along a path that includes the bone, and wherein the assembly is configured so that the path may be disposed in a plurality of positions so as to pass through a plurality of locations within a selected region of the bone; b. a signal processor, in communication with the second one of the pair of transducers, for providing a measure, associated with each of the locations, that is indicative of at least one of transient spectral or transient temporal components of a portion, up to the whole amount thereof, of the signal received by the second one of the pair of transducers; c. a value memory for storing values related to the measure associated with the locations; d. a location processor for identifying an edge of the bone based on values in the value memory and for selecting a target location having a specified relation to the edge of the bone; and e. an output processor for providing as an output a quantity associated with the target location.

Claim 24

An apparatus for externally determining in a vertebrate subject an index of porosity and non-connectivity of a bone disposed within a body part, the apparatus comprising: a. an acoustic transceiver having i. a signal generator for producing, when coupled to a transducer, an acoustic pulse, having energy distributed over a frequency range and ii. a transducer assembly including a plurality of transducers and providing a pair of transducers in spaced relationship with respect to the bone, wherein a first one of the pair is coupled to the signal generator so as to provide an acoustic pulse and a second one of the pair receives an acoustic signal resulting from propagation of the acoustic pulse along a path that includes the bone, and wherein the assembly is configured so that the path may be disposed in a plurality of positions so as to pass through a plurality of locations within a selected region of the bone; b. a signal processor, in communication with the second one of the pair of transducers, for providing a measure, associated with each of the locations, that is indicative of at least one of transient spectral or transient temporal components of a portion, up to the whole amount thereof, of the signal received by the second one of the pair of transducers; c. a value memory for storing values related to the measure associated with the locations; d. a location processor for identifying an edge of the bone based on values in the value memory and for selecting a target location having a specified relation to the edge of the bone; and e. an output processor for providing as an output a quantity associated with the target location.