Estimating the properties of bone phantom cylinders through the inversion of axially transmitted low-frequency ultrasonic guided waves

• Published in: Ultrasonics Vol. 155; p. 107694
• Main Authors: Chaboty, Aubin, Nguyen, Vu-Hieu, Haiat, Guillaume, Bélanger, Pierre
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.11.2025
• Subjects: Algorithms; Axial transmission; Bone and Bones - diagnostic imaging; Cortical bone; Fourier Analysis; Humans; Inversion algorithm; Low-frequency ultrasonic guided waves; Phantoms, Imaging; SAIGA method; Transducers; Ultrasonic Waves; Ultrasonography - methods; SAIGA method; Low-frequency ultrasonic guided waves; Axial transmission; Cortical bone; Inversion algorithm
• ISSN: 0041-624X; 1874-9968; 1874-9968
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ultras.2025.107694

Early detection of osteoporosis has increasingly focused on ultrasonic methods, particularly guided waves in axial transmission to assess cortical bone properties. This study demonstrates the potential of low-frequency measurements (<500 kHz) for accurately inferring cortical mechanical and geometrical properties. A custom ultrasonic transducer centered at 350 kHz was used to acquire data, processed via a 2D fast Fourier transform to obtain dispersion curves. These were compared with simulations generated using the semi-analytical iso-geometric analysis (SAIGA) method, modeling a quasi-cylindrical bone geometry in void or immersed in olive oil. By incorporating an excitability parameter into the inversion algorithm, the proposed method achieved a less than 5% discrepancy between bone phantom properties determined via SAIGA inversion and bulk wave pulse-echo measurements, demonstrating its accuracy and potential for in vivo applications. Results also showed that high-wavenumber modes predominantly reflect material properties, whereas low-wavenumber modes below 100 kHz are sensitive to the overall bone geometry, highlighting the importance of low frequencies for a global bone characterization. •Assessment of bone phantom properties using low-frequency (under 500 kHz) ultrasonic guided waves.•Implementation of SAIGA-based inversion method.•Inversion algorithm focused on high amplitude modes.•Accurate estimation of bone phantom properties in scenario simulating in-vivo conditions.