A joint work on bone fracture sensing and acoustic data communication with Prof. Barker and Dr. Bhavsar (both are from Frankfurt Initiative for Regenerative Medicine, University Hospital Frankfurt) has been published in Ultrasound in Medicine & Biology.
Abstract:
Approximately 6.3 million fractures occur each year in the United States alone. Accurately monitoring the progression of fracture healing is essential to be able to advise patients when it is safe to return to normal activity. The most common method used to confirm and monitor fracture healing is the acquisition of multiple radiographic images over the many months required for healing. This imaging method uses large expensive equipment and exposes patients to high levels of ionizing radiation. In the study described here, we tested another technology for monitoring fracture healing that could minimize the need for multiple radiographic images. We tested a piezoelectric transducer fixed to the surface of a bone that uses electromechanical impedance spectroscopy to measure simulated fractures and transmits the measurement data to an acoustic receiver located externally on the skin surface.
More information:
Moll, J. ; Kexel, C.; Milanchian, H.; Bhavsar, M. & Barker, J., Ultrasound Bone Fracture Sensing and Data Communication: Experimental Results in a Pig Limb Sample, Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology, Vol. 45(2), 2019, pp. 605-611, Link
