FEMUS: Femur ultrasound scanner

• Research unit: EU RFP
• Project number: 02.0116

Key words (English)

Life Sciences; Medicine; Health; Social Aspects

Alternative project number (English)

EU project number: QLK6-CT-2002-02710

Research programs (English)

EU-programme: 5. Frame Research Programme - 1.1.6 The ageing population and disabilities

Short description (English)

See abstract

Abstract (English)

Osteoporotic fractures cause a substantial mortality and high costs in the EU with a tendency of further increases. New treatments can significantly reduce fracture incidence, provided that methods for accurate diagnosis of bone fragility are available. Quantitative Ultrasound (QUS) methods have shown potential to predict future fractures, but are limited to some peripheral bones. To improve the diagnosis a QUS scanner for direct measurements at the proximal femur will be developed. Innovations include ultrasound based 3-D bone contour detection and combined transmission/reflection measurements. We expect superior performance in identifying subjects at highest risk for hip facture, the fracture with the most severe consequences of osteoporosis. If successful, the FEMUS QUS femur scanner will have strong potential for commercialisation because of lower cost, lack of ionising radiation, and better patient acceptance.

References in databases (English)

Swiss Database: Euro-DB of the
State Secretariat for Education and Research
Hallwylstrasse 4
CH-3003 Berne, Switzerland
Tel. [phone]
Swiss Project-Number: 02.0116