Bone Disorders


Ultrasound: Assessing Bone Strength and Structure and Accelerating Fracture Healing
Bone loss represents a key health problem and is associated with aging, osteoporosis and long-term space missions. Loss of bone diminishes both the structure and strength of bone, which significantly reduces the bone's ability to resist loads and increases the risk of fracture. A technology in development for space medical care will also be a benefit to medical care on Earth. Dr. Yi-Xian Qin and colleagues are developing a new, integrated ultrasound technology called Scanning Confocal Acoustic Navigation, or SCAN. The SCAN technology, which was recently awarded a U.S. patent, can assess and predict bone parameters beyond mineral density, namely bone qualities such as strength, structure and stiffness. The device can also be beneficial for guided fracture healing with ultrasound. Because the SCAN device is small and mobile, it will be easy to use in medical clinics as a noninvasive method of monitoring bone health and accelerating fracture healing.

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NSBRI Investigator: Yi-Xian Qin, Ph.D., State University of New York - Stony Brook University

Reducing Radiation-Induced Bone Loss
In the U.S. today, 10 million individuals are estimated to already have osteoporosis and almost 34 million more are estimated to have low bone mass, placing them at increased risk for osteoporosis. A consequence of bone loss is an increased risk for fractures. Radiation is another potential factor that causes bone loss, especially for astronauts exposed to space radiation and for people on Earth who receive radiotherapy. Dr. Ted A. Bateman is leading a project to understand radiation-induced bone loss and to determine which treatments, such as the use of bisphosphonates, can be used to reduce that loss and lower the risk of fractures.

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NSBRI Investigator: Ted A. Bateman, Ph.D., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill