Modelling the Propagation of Ultrasound in the Joint Space of a Human Knee

There is strong evidence to support the clinical use of low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) to augment fracture healing. A previous experimental study showed that ultrasound can propagate in the joint space of a single human cadaveric knee. A full experimental investigation of this propagation is not possible due to poor reproducibility, the scarcity of human cadaveric tissues and the practical difficulties in making ultrasound measurements in the knee. The aim of the present work is to investigate whether a computer simulation (Wave2000 Pro®; Cyberlogic Inc., New York, NY, USA) can give a good representation of the experimental model. The simulations provided a good agreement with the experimental data, giving some confidence in the application of this computer simulation method as a means of determining whether ultrasound can propagate through different anatomical regions where bone is present. (E-mail: hcs8dw@leeds.ac.uk)