Ultrasound platform spots bone stress injuries sooner
A Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory team is developing OsteoSEE, a noninvasive ultrasound system that sends surface acoustic waves along cortical bone to detect microstructural damage before stress fractures become visible on standard imaging. The approach avoids ionizing radiation and uses commercially available transducers, with potential to support military readiness by catching overuse injuries earlier. The project received a 2026 R&D 100 Award.
OsteoSEE is being developed at Johns Hopkins APL as a noninvasive ultrasound method for examining cortical bone. It angles commercially available transducers so sound travels as surface waves along the bone’s outer layer, then analyzes signal changes linked to microscopic damage.
In tests, the platform identified fractures smaller than 0.5 mm—below conventional planar X-ray resolution—and researchers checked findings against micro-CT. The work received a 2026 R&D 100 Award and targets earlier detection of overuse injuries, especially tibial stress fractures in military personnel.
If validated, OsteoSEE could help clinicians and military trainers identify bone damage before standard imaging, potentially enabling earlier rest or treatment and reducing progression to disabling stress fractures. Service members in training or operations may benefit most, but broader use could depend on clinical validation, access, and workflow integration. The technology may also appeal where radiation-free, lower-cost assessment is useful, though it is not yet a routine diagnostic tool.