Site dependence of ultrasonically induced electrical potentials in bone.

The success rate of low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) therapy depends on the bone site. However, the initial mechanism of physical stimulation by ultrasound and bone cellular response remains unclear. One possible physical stimulation is the induced electrical potentials due to the piezoelectricity. In this study, the output electrical potentials of ultrasound transducers made from bovine bones were investigated. Transducers made from the radius bone showed the largest electric potentials, followed by tibia, femur, and humerus. There was clear site dependence of the induced electric potentials of bone, in good accordance with the success rate of LIPUS therapy.