(I-329) Exploration of Audible Sound, Time Delay Spectroscopy for Assessing Bone Health

Introduction:: Osteoporosis is a degenerative medical condition that affects an estimated 10 million individuals in the United States and 200 millions globally. It results in the gradual degradation of bone tissue which is associated with a characteristic decrease in bone density (BD). The populations most affected by osteoporosis are postmenopausal women, diabetic patients, and the elderly. Around 1 in 3 women and 1 in 5 men over the age of 50 will experience an osteoporosis fracture in their lifetime. Currently, there are a number of density metric and sonometric devices available for BD monitoring, such as quantitative computed tomography (QCT), dual-energy x-ray absorption (DXA), and ultrasound (QUS). Yet these methods are expensive and not always readily available. In the cases of QCT and DXA, patients may be exposed to small, frequent doses of ionizing radiation. While effective for measuring BD, these methods are not always feasible due to their utility limitations in rural healthcare, making them inaccessibly expensive for facilities/patients who require routine screening. Due to the high demand for these costly and invasive nature devices, the need for a rapid, low-cost, and non-invasive method to monitor BD is continuing to increase. The current study explores audible sound, time delay spectroscopy as a viable option for measuring BD in a safe and effective manner by reducing cost drivers and increasing simplicity.


Materials and Methods:: This work utilizes a previously made prototype containing an off the shelf speaker and microphones, linear actuators, current sensors, 2-channel relays, Arduinos and MyDAQs. The speaker and microphones are used to generate and acquire audible sound signals with their position being controlled by linear actuators and 2-channel relays. The coupling force is controlled by regulating the power supplied to the actuators with LabVIEW being used as the primary software.


Results, Conclusions, and Discussions:: Results:

Results include a design analysis of the current prototype and the application of audible sound, time delay spectroscopy. Time delay validation data was collected to analyze sensitivity to device parameters and material properties of bone.



Discussion:

Results indicate that the system is sensitive to changes in the material properties of bone and that time delay measurements prefer specific geometries.



Conclusion:

The time delay validation data indicates that audible sound, time delay spectroscopy show potential as a method of assessing bone health.


Acknowledgements (Optional): : Acknowledgements:

This author would like to thank Evan Bess, Professor Mason, Dr. O’Brien, Professor Segee, and Forrest Flagg for their guidance and support on this project.


References (Optional): : References:

Kanis, J. A. Who Scientific Group on the Assessment of Osteoporosis At Primary Health. WHO Sci. Gr. Assess. osteoporosis Prim. Heal. care Lev. 5–7 (2008).

Sozen, T., Ozisik, L. & Calik Basaran, N. An overview and management of osteoporosis. European Journal of Rheumatology 4, 46–56 (2017).

iHealthcareAnalyst Inc. Global Osteoporosis Diagnostic Testing Market $504 Million by 2027. (2022).