Structural stiffness estimation of replica cancellous bone models via finite element analysis of 3D ultrasound computed tomography data (UCT-FEA) — ASN Events
  1. Schedule
  2. Poster Viewing II (even numbers)
  3. Structural stiffness estimation of replica cancellous bone models via finite element analysis of 3D ultrasound computed tomography data (UCT-FEA)

Structural stiffness estimation of replica cancellous bone models via finite element analysis of 3D ultrasound computed tomography data (UCT-FEA) (#130)

Christian Langton 1 2 , Marwan A M Althomali 2 , Marie-Luise Wille 2 , Matthew Shortell 2 , Devakar R Epari 2 , Janne Koponen 3 4 , Michael W Jones 2 , Scott Wearing 2
  1. Faculty of Science and Engineering, Doshisha University, Kyoto, Japan
  2. Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, QLD, Australia
  3. School of Information Systems, Kajaani University of Applied Sciences, Kajaani, Finland
  4. Applied Physics, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland

Several non-invasive methods are used to assess a subject’s bone status including X-ray absorptiometry (bone mineral density) and quantitative ultrasound (speed of sound and broadband ultrasound attenuation). Noting that to date there is no non-invasive method of accurately measuring the structural stiffness of bone, here we report the feasibility of its estimation using finite element analysis of 3D ultrasound computed tomography data.

X-ray microCT scan data of four human cancellous bone samples (femoral head, iliac crest, calcaneus, lumbar spine) were replicated using 3D-printing (VisiJet M3 Crystal material, ProJet 3510 SD printer) into eight 15x magnified orthogonal cylindrical models. Each was scanned by our prototype UCT system, consisting of two 64-element 5MHz transducer arrays connected to an Olympus Omniscan unit; with translation and rotation of each model facilitated by a Motoman HP6 robotic arm. Variable-displacement FEA (ANSYS®) was performed to predict the structural stiffness of each model; incorporating the UCT image data along with the corresponding Young’s modulus (1463 MPa) and Poisson’s ratio (0.35) data for the 3D-print material. For comparison to the gold-standard of destructive mechanical testing, the structural stiffness of each model was experimentally measured under compressive physical loading.

We obtained a coefficient of determination (R2%) of 84% for UCT-FEA to estimate mechanical test derived structural stiffness. This result suggests that UCT-FEA may have the potential to provide a non-invasive and non-destructive estimate of the structural stiffness of bone, with significant potential to improve prediction of osteoporotic fracture risk and the clinical management of post-amputation prosthetics.