Ultrasonic bone assessment apparatus with adjustable ulna styloid support and method

An apparatus for aligning a wave generator with a region of interest in a bone within an arm of a subject, comprising:

• said wave generator;
• a first surface configured to support a forearm of said arm in a defined position relative to said wave generator;
• a first block disposed on top of said first surface, said first block defining a second surface spaced from and parallel to said first surface and configured to support a wrist of said arm;
• a support element disposed on said first block and configured to be positioned under a wrist of said arm in alignment with an ulna styloid of said forearm, said support element spaced from said wave generator in a longitudinal direction of said forearm;
• and,
• a second block disposed on top of said first surface and spaced from said first block, said second block defining a third surface spaced from and parallel to said first and second surfaces and configured to support an elbow of said arm, said wave generator disposed between said first and second blocks;
• wherein said first block and said support element are movable relative to said wave generator in the longitudinal direction of said forearm to vary a distance between said support element and said wave generator in the longitudinal direction of said forearm and thereby align said wave generator with said region of interest, said distance determined responsive to a measurement associated with said arm.

An apparatus for aligning a wave generator with a region of interest in a bone within an arm of a subject, comprising:

• said wave generator;
• a first surface configured to support a forearm of said arm in a defined position relative to said wave generator;
• first and second blocks disposed on top of said first surface, said first and second blocks spaced from one another in the longitudinal direction of said forearm and disposed on opposite sides of said wave generator, said first block configured to support a wrist of said arm and said second block configured to support an elbow of said arm;
• a support element disposed on said first block and configured to be positioned under a wrist of said arm in alignment with an ulna styloid of said forearm,
• wherein said first block and said support element are movable relative to said wave generator in the longitudinal direction of said forearm to vary a distance between said support element and said wave generator in the longitudinal direction of said forearm and thereby align said wave generator with said region of interest, said distance determined responsive to a measurement associated with said arm.