Ultrasonic Phase Velocity and Attenuation Coefficient Predicted by Biot's Theory and the MBA Model in Cancellous Bone

Biot's theory and a modified Biot-Attenborough (MBA) model are applied to predict the dependences of acoustic characteristics on frequency and porosity in cancellous bone. The phase velocity and the attenuation coefficient predicted by both theories are compared with previous in vitro experimental measurements in terms of the mixed, the fast, and the slow waves. Biot's theory successfully predicts the dependences of phase velocity on frequency and porosity in cancellous bone, whereas a significant discrepancy is observed between predicted and measured attenuation coefficients. The MBA model is consistent with reported measurements for both dependences of phase velocity and attenuation coefficient on frequency and porosity. Based on the theoretical predictions from the MBA model, it is suggested that the attenuation coefficient of the mixed wave is dominated by the fast wave in the low-porosity region while it is dominated by the slow wave in the high-porosity region. This provides a qualitative explanation for the nonlinear relationship of attenuation of the mixed wave with porosity in cancellous bone.