Optmized Metamaterial Sensor for Effective Bone Fracture Detection

This research paper studies the feasibility of sensitivity for the detection of bone fractures by providing a non-invasive approach in diagnosis and in situations where other traditional approaches and methods are not conducive because of the radiation emitted. This sensor can also be used in monitoring and tracking the changes in the biological tissues as the fracture begins to heal. This sensor also substitutes the need of invasive devices and surgical operations that are not necessarily needed, e.g., when a fracture duration of healing becomes stagnant, or the time assumed for the healing to complete does not conform to the time. This sensor is inspired by the qualities that metamaterials possess. A metamaterial sensor is used to scan a bone phantom designed with the tissues and dielectric properties that mimic the real bone femur linearly from the selected frequencies of the 1–4 GHz range and the scattered parameters collected for analysis. A fracture size of 00.50mm, 0.75mm and 1.00mm of fracture was made in the femur designed in CST microwave studio to test the sensitivity of the sensor. Results show that the sensor was able to detect a slight fracture as small as 0.50mm in width and 17mm deep, having the bone skin thickness as 2.00mm.