Is it possible to use traditional Acoustic Emissions (AE) techniques to determine fractures in bone?

Question

Hi there, I am currently trying to find out if I can use the traditional methods of Acoustic Emissions (AE) testing on bone.

Because I understand that AE techniques are widely used for non-destructive testing (NDT), IE, to determine cracks withing bridges, etc.

Hence, I was wondering if i could use AE as an alternate form of NDT for bone fractures?

A million thanks in advance.

Answer 1

While it may tell you whether the bone is fractured or not, would it tell you the manner in which it was fractured? To be useful it would have to be good for diagnosis and treatment, as x-rays are. From an x-ray one can decide not only if the bone is broken, but whether or how to pin/repair it. Perhaps if you used multiple sources and receivers....you could generate a 3D map of the break without x-ray radiation - which could be beneficial. To really compete with xrays it would have to be cheap, though.

BTW, they use x-rays for NDT as well ;)