In vivo performance of a matrix-based quantitative ultrasound imaging device dedicated to calcaneus investigation

We developed a prototype of an ultrasound (US) bone matrix densitometer, the BEAM scanner, in the context of a European Space Agency research program. This device, which is a contact imaging device, was designed to overcome the limitations of immersion devices in space. Broadband US attenuation (BUA) and speed of sound (SOS) parameters were calculated from the radiofrequency (RF) signal. The principle aim of this study was to evaluate in vivo performance in direct comparison with a currently available device (UBIS 3000, DMS, France). The short-term precision of the BEAM scanner for BUA was estimated at 2.8%, whereas it was 2.3% with UBIS 3000. The short-term precision for SOS was 0.3%, and this was the same as the coefficient of variation (CV) of the UBIS 3000. CVs of 3.4% and 0.6% for midterm precision were found for BUA and SOS, respectively, and UBIS 3000 scores were 3% and 0.4%, respectively. This preliminary study demonstrates the high performance of the BEAM scanner and its new concept offers a wide range of improvements and new applications.