Microwave diagnostics of osteoporosis

Abstract

A biological object is considered as a complicated dielectric structure with losses. Particularly, the dielectric properties of human bones depend on their state (normal or diseased). Osteoporosis is characterized by a trabecular bone structure deterioration changing the bone density and dielectric permittivity. We modeled the electromagnetic (EM) wave propagation trough the human wrist considered as a multilayer structure comprising bone, muscle, fat etc. EM properties of the wrist bone affect the propagating EM wave. The aim of this study is to investigate the dependence of wave propagation characteristics on the osteoporosis severity, expressed as a change of dielectric permittivity of the wrist bone, which may be useful for osteoporosis diagnostic. Results of the full wave wrist model simulations with different degrees of the osteoporosis severity are presented and discussed.