Photo-acoustic imaging of bone surface vibrations for rapid and accurate assessment of osteoporosis
PAQUS-consortium

Timonen Jussi, JyU, Haeggstrom Edward, UH, Myllylä Risto, University of Oulu

The proposed research combines photo-acoustic (PA) imaging with skeletal quantitative ultrasound (QUS) to enable rapid and accurate assessment of osteoporosis. Whereas it is the osteoporotic fractures which constitute a serious public health problem, the current x-ray or ultrasound techniques assess bone density alone, and therefore do not accurately predict future fractures. Multi-modal QUS is one of the most potential alternative approaches, and the research consortium has already developed a related method using standard piezoelectric contact US transducers. Despite its success with in vitro measurements, accurate measurement with the current technique of certain ultrasound modes which would markedly increase the diagnostic capability has proved to be difficult owing to the layer of soft tissue covering the bone. The present project aims to realize PA excitation and detection of bone surface vibrations remotely and non-invasively from above the soft tissue, and make thereby possible detection of these modes. Non-contact measurements will also otherwise provide advantage over the current methods. The new method and the related prototype device will be tested in clinical in vivo assessment of osteoporosis. This project promotes multidisciplinary collaboration and mobility of students and researchers working on a cutting edge application of PA and QUS to a significant problem in public health care.