Bone mass measurement

Patent Pending PCT No. PCT/US96/10738 Sec. 371 Date Nov. 25, 1997 Sec. 102(e) Date Nov. 25, 1997 PCT Filed Jun. 20, 1996 PCT Pub. No. WO97/00643 PCT Pub. Date Jan. 9, 1997The present invention provides an apparatus for noninvasive determination of bone mass, said apparatus having a platform for supporting a bone to be measured, a spring having a selected stiffness which connects the platform to a sensor capable of measuring vibration velocity and force, and a vibrating means connected to the sensor, wherein the vibrating means exposes the sensor, the spring and the platform to vibration so that vibration velocity and force can be measured by the sensor and the mass of the bone determined.