Broadband ultrasonic attenuation imaging: a new imaging technique of the os calcis.

Ultrasound transmission measurement through the os calcis is an emerging technique and a promising clinical tool for early assessment of osteoporosis. However, several previous studies showed that broadband ultrasonic attenuation (BUA) is sensitive to small variations in bone mass or structure. The os calcis is an inhomogeneous bone and therefore, the attenuation depends on the location in the os calcis. BUA distribution within the os calcis can be measured by rectilinear scanning over the entire bone. We used a mechanical scanning device with both unfocused and focused transducers. The spatial resolution of these was about 25 mm and 4 mm, respectively. There was good agreement (r = 0.97) between the results with unfocused and focused transducers. In addition, imaging the variations of BUA is possible with the focused transducers, and high quality images are obtained. These images permit the selection of optimal regions of interest for ultrasound attenuation measurement.