Researchers at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory are developing OsteoSEE, a noninvasive ultrasound platform designed for early stress fracture detection without radiation. Recognized with a 2026 R&D 100 Award, OsteoSEE uses surface acoustic waves to detect bone micro-damage smaller than 0.5 millimeters. Validated against micro-CT imaging, the portable system aims to protect military readiness against debilitating overuse injuries.
OsteoSEE ultrasound technology
- ▪The OsteoSEE team is exploring compatibility with low-intensity pulsed ultrasound for bone healing, alongside potential applications in sports medicine and pediatric care.
- ▪Researchers at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory are developing OsteoSEE, a noninvasive, radiation-free ultrasound platform to detect early-stage cortical bone stress fractures.
- ▪OsteoSEE uses commercial off-the-shelf ultrasound transducers and real-time analysis to make bone fracture assessments practical in military training or operational settings.
Military stress fracture prevalence
- ▪Fully developed stress fractures can cause disabling injuries to individual warfighters before conventional diagnostic tools like X-rays detect early bone micro-damage.
- ▪Tibial stress fractures represent one of the most common overuse injuries affecting military personnel, limiting overall mission readiness across the armed forces.
Surface acoustic wave detection
- ▪Surface acoustic waves travel slower and attenuate less along the bone surface, making OsteoSEE sensitive to minor microstructural changes and accumulating damage.
- ▪OsteoSEE directs sound waves at precise angles and frequencies to generate surface acoustic waves along the outer layer of cortical bone.
Sub-millimeter fracture detection
- ▪Conventional planar X-rays often lack sensitivity for early-stage stress fractures, while MRI imaging remains costly and requires specialized facilities.
- ▪In testing, OsteoSEE detected bone fractures smaller than 0.5 millimeters, which is thinner than a credit card and below conventional planar X-ray resolution.
Micro-CT validation testing
- ▪Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory researchers verified OsteoSEE signals against micro-CT imaging to confirm that acoustic changes correspond to actual bone structural damage.
- ▪The injury model used to develop and evaluate OsteoSEE was independently validated through micro-CT imaging.
R&D 100 Award recognition
- ▪The Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory developed OsteoSEE by combining expertise in military injury biomechanics, advanced acoustics, and complex signal processing.
- ▪OsteoSEE was selected as a 2026 R&D 100 Award winner in recognition of its innovative approach to early bone fracture detection.
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