Acoustic emission and ultrasound for monitoring the bone-implant interface

This article considers the principles and methods of monitoring the bone-implant interface using mechanical measurements. The article is mostly about dental implants, but makes occasional reference to orthopedic implants. The basic physical principles involved in vibration, ultrasound, and acoustic emission assessment of interfaces are outlined first. This is followed by sections reviewing, respectively, vibrational techniques, techniques using conventional ultrasound, and methods using active and passive acoustic emission. The article concludes with a summary of the current state of the art in mechanical assessment of the bone-implant interface and potential developments in the near future.