Ultrasonic wave propagation in animal bones

Abstract

Several experiments using ultrasonic wave propagation in freshly frozen dog tibia were carried out. Longitudinal sound-velocity measurements indicate significant directional variations in its value which may be due to structural variation of the biphasic material. The presence of shear waves in bone has been demonstrated by using a contact shear transducer. The shear velocity in the dog tibia is 1.75 × 105 cm/sec, while the longitudinal velocity is between 3.21 × 105 cm/sec and 3.62 × 105 cm/sec, depending on the direction of propagation. Both fractured and unfractured bones were used in the experiment. It has been demonstrated that echoes reflecting from the interface of the fracture can be used to detect fractures in bones. [Research sponsored by the U. S. Atomic Energy Commission under contract with the Union Carbide Corporation and aided by Grant No, In-89F from the American Cancer Society.]