Ultrasound propagation in 'in vivo' bone.

Piezoelectricity in in vivo bone has been demonstrated by exciting the bone with a coupled transducer made of modified lead zirconate titanate material (PCB-6) and the electrical signal in the excited bone is detected with the help of implanted stainless stell electrodes of 1.00 mm diameter. Also, acoustical parameters such as the ultrasound velocity and attenuation constant in in vivo bone are obtained. A possible mechanism of ultrasound interaction with the biological system in question is discussed, taking into account the theoretically calculated reflected power from each interface of intervening biological medium.