Math Department (Thesis/2012-13)

Ultrasound Modulated Optical Tomography Assessment of Osteoporosis

Co-supervised by: Jue Wang and Roger Hoerl

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Osteoporosis is a disease characterized by low bone mass and structural deterioration of bone tissue, leading to bone fragility and an increased susceptibility to fracture of the hip, spine and wrist. According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation, 10 million Americans currently have osteoporosis and approximately 34 million more are estimated to have low bone mass, increasing their risk of developing the disease. The estimated national direct cost for osteoporosis and associated fractures is \$19 billion per year (\$52 million each day) -- and the cost is rising. By 2025, experts predict that these costs will rise to approximately $25.3 billion per year. Patients with osteoporosis are not timely treated because of a lack of general awareness and early detection.

In this thesis project, we will research the feasibility of using ultrasound modulated optical tomography to detect and assess osteoporosis. This study could provide options to populations that don't have access to the gold standard test or simply are not aware of the disease.

This could be a one or two-term thesis topic for multiple students. Students will learn some basic knowledge on sound waves and light waves, differential equations, statistics and some programming.

Math Department web pages Created: 11 May 2009 Last modified: 02 May 2012 08:55:03 Comments to: math@union.edu

Thesis Topics - K. Zimmermann Course Pages Thesis Topics - J. Wang