NSF-CGP Fellowship: Scanning Acoustic Microscopy Studies of Micromechanical Properties of Osteoporotic Bone

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9602492 Katz This award supports U.S.-Japan collaborative research between Dr. J. Lawrence Katz of the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Case Western Reserve University and Professor Noriyoshi Chubachi in the Department of Electrical Engineering at Tohoku University in Sendai, Japan. Dr. Katz will be spending six months at Tohoku University undertaking scanning acoustic microscopy studies of micromechanical properties of osteoporotic bone. The researchers will research ultrasound techniques which measure sound velocity and/or attenuation through specific bones, in vivo, to assess the level of "bone quality" in order to develop more effective screening techniques for osteoporosis as well as providing an indication of when bone might be at risk of fracture. This technique provides an advantage over dual energy x-ray absorptionmetry (DEXA) which provides information about the material properties of bone, such as stiffness and rigidity, rather than bone density. By developing correlations between elastic properties and bone strength, it then would be possible to develop a fracture risk index which could become the basis for early intervention of medical procedures to prevent the occurrence of fractures. The U.S. researcher brings to this collaboration his knowledge of the scientific relationships between structure, function and properties of bone tissues. More recently he has been involved in research into the form function relationships in bone tissues undergoing material changes (losses) due to the onset of osteoporosis. This is complemented by expertise of the Japanese researcher in the area of high frequency scanning acoustic microscopy (SAM) for bone micromechanic studies. His laboratory is equipped with a state-of-the-art SAM for work at very high resolution. The project is expected to result in greater prediction of fracture risk to the large number of women, people in long term bed rest, and astronauts in the microgravity environment o f space who have, or are prone to, the serious condition of osteoporosis. Both researchers have expressed their expectation to continue research on their project after the conclusion of the six month visit.