Johns Hopkins APL develops ultrasound technology for early stress-fracture detection

Researchers at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) in Laurel, Maryland, have developed Osteo Surface Echo Evaluation (OsteoSEE), a noninvasive, ultrasound-based platform designed to identify early-stage stress fractures in cortical bone.

Unlike conventional X-ray imaging, which may lack sensitivity to hairline fractures, or MRI, which is costly and requires specialized facilities, OsteoSEE uses surface acoustic waves to detect microstructural changes without the use of ionizing radiation. The system utilizes commercial off-the-shelf ultrasound transducers to direct waves along the bone's outer layer, where they are highly sensitive to small changes in bone density or damage.

Principal investigator Anna Knight noted that the technology has significant implications for military readiness, as tibial stress fractures are common overuse injuries that can disable personnel and limit mission capabilities.