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Non-invasive electromagnetic technique for monitoring bone healing and bone fracture localization

  • US 4,688,580 A
  • Filed: 07/11/1985
  • Issued: 08/25/1987
  • Est. Priority Date: 07/11/1985
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A method for monitoring bone healing, comprising the steps of:

  • noninvasively measuring the impedance of bone and other biological material in the region of a bone fracture site at a plurality of different times; and

    ,comparing said impedance measurements to monitor healing of the bone fracture, wherein a healed fracture will have a lower impedance than a newly formed fracture site,and wherein noninvasively measuring impedance for each of said plurality of times comprises the following steps;

    generating an oscillating near field magnetic flux that is spatially concentrated in the region of the bone fracture site thereby producing eddy currents in bone and other biological matter located in the region of the bone fracture site, such eddy currents inducing a secondary magnetic emission which varies in response to the impedance of said bone and other biological matter located in the region of said fracture site; and

    , detecting said induced secondary magnetic emission and displaying an informational signal indicating the local impedance in the region of the fracture site.

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