THE INTERACTION OF ULTRASOUND WITH CANCELLOUS BONE

The Biot theory is used in an attempt to explain the frequency dependence of ultrasonic attenuation, f(alpha), in cancellous bone. Measurements of f(alpha) in samples of cancellous bone are compared with values calculated using parameters established from bone samples by statistical histomorphometry. Ultrasonic attenuation in cancellous bone correlates with trabecular bone volume but the Biot theory, although producing qualitative agreement produces quantitative results which are significantly deviant using parameters presently available. At the present time, too many of the Biot parameters are insufficiently defined for cancellous bone, to allow a complete test of the model.