Prediction of ultrasound attenuation in cancellous bones using poroelasticity and scattering theories

An heuristic model combining scattering and absorption is proposed to predict attenuation in trabecular bones. Trabecular bone is a highly porous material composed of a fluid-saturated trabecular network of plates and struts. Scattering is described using a weak scattering medium model. A close agreement is observed between theoretical and experimental backscatter coefficients. Absorption is described using the poroelasticity model developed by Blot. The total theoretical attenuation coefficient is approximately 4 dB below the experimental one. This is a significant improvement compared to the previous published models.