Experimental observation of piezoelectric effect in cancellous bone generated by ultrasound irradiation.

In this study, piezoelectric cells (PE-cells) of cancellous bone were experimentally produced to receive an ultrasound wave. In the PE-cell, a bovine cancellous bone specimen, in which the pore spaces were saturated with air, was electrically shielded to prevent electromagnetic noise. As a result, the piezoelectric signal generated in the cancellous bone specimen by irradiating an ultrasound burst wave at 1.0 MHz could be clearly observed in water. The experimental results showed that the ultrasound sensitivity per unit area of cancellous bone was estimated to be below 1/100 and 1/100 000 of cortical bone and poly(vinylidene fluoride), respectively.