Reviews and News on Ultrasound Machines

Researchers have developed a new form of ultrasound that may be able to predict early bone loss. The new form of ultrasound was developed by Yi-Xian Qin, Ph.D., Director of Orthopedic Bioengineering Research Laboratory at Stony Brook University. Dr. Qin developed the new ultrasound form jointly with colleagues at Stony Brook and at the NSBRI (National Space Biomedical Research Institute).

Bone loss, or osteoporosis, affects millions of Americans. The new ultrasound machine called SCAN, for Scanning Confocal Acoustic Navigation, looks at more than just the density of bone. It can look for strength, structure, and stiffness as well. “SCAN uses non-invasive and non-destructive ultrasound to image bone, and the technology enables us to identify weak regions, as well as make a diagnosis and to assist in healing fractures,” says Dr. Qin. “Because with SCAN we can assess bone qualities, such as stiffness, we can predict the risk of fracture, as quality of bone rather than density is more of a predictor of fracture risk.”

The new technology will be more than just diagnostic; it will be therapeutic as well. By stimulating bone regeneration, ultrasound machines can help accelerate the healing of fractures. “We are trying to use ultrasound technology as a way to get an image of the fracture site,” says Dr. Qin. “An integrated probe will directly shoot ultrasound into the region of the fracture. We hope this will result in effective acceleration of fracture healing.”

The NSBRI is funded by NASA. NASA is interested in this technology because astronauts who spend extended periods of time in space suffer from bone loss, and are also subject to stress fractures.

As the elderly population in American continues to grow, finding affordable, easy to use ways to provide excellent care will be an increasingly important goal. Dr. Qin and his colleagues believe SCAN technology will not only be easier and less expensive to use than current x-ray based measures of bone density, but that it will also be easier and have more robust capabilities. It is possible that patients may be able to use a small, mobile SCAN device themselves. Currently SCAN is in clinical evaluation.

Ultrasound Machine Tags: Medical Equipment, ultrasound machine, Ultrasound Machines