Nonlinear Acoustics for Non-invasive Assessment of Bone Micro-damage

Abstract

This chapter presents the state of art in the field of nonlinear ultrasound applied to bone micro-damage assessment. An increasing number of groups have been conducting research in the past years on this particular topic, motivated by the particular sensitivity shown by nonlinear ultrasound methods in industrial materials and geomaterials. Some of the results obtained recently on bone damage assessment in vitrousing various nonlinear ultrasound techniques are presented. In particular, results obtained with higher harmonic generation, Dynamic Acousto-Elastic Testing (DAET), Nonlinear Resonant Ultrasound Spectroscopy (NRUS), and Nonlinear Wave Modulation Spectroscopy (NWMS) techniques are detailed. All those results show a very good potential for nonlinear ultrasound techniques for bone damage assessment. They should benefit from a proper quantification of the relationship between micro-damage and nonlinear ultrasound parameters. This could be obtained through a thorough statistical study which remains to be achieved. A practical implementation of an in vivosetup also remains to be conducted.