Parametric imaging of a trabecular bone by a Scanning Acoustic Microscope

A nondestructive method is proposed for bone quality assessment at a resolution of about 200 µm. The properties of the bone matrix itself, independent of the mass or porosity of the bone, can be determined using a Scanning Acoustic Microscope (SAM). The high resolution of the SAM makes it possible to image a single trabecula of the biopsed iliac bone sample. Two microscopic acoustic images of a trabecula are recorded. The first is created by the waves reflected from the surface of the sample. The other is formed by the reflections from the bottom. These images are processed further and two parametric images are calculated. They reflect the distribution of impedance and attenuation in the bone. The method is applied to examine trabeculae in bone samples biopsed from patients with metabolic bone diseases.