This article describes one of the current research foci of Professor Ozan Akkus of Purdue's Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering. In his research, Professor Akkus is adapting a technique used to pinpoint the origin of an earthquake to detect possible future fractures.

Akkus and his research team have designed a piezoelectric wearable sensor that records the ultrasound waves created when stress is applied to human bones. The sensor converts the vibration into an electrical signal whose rate "skyrockets" shortly before a fracture occurs. By determining the precise signal emitted immediately prior to catastrophic failure of the bone, Akkus and his team hope to be able to predict fractures before they occur and warn of impending injuries.

He is planning to equip student sports teams with the piezoelectric sensors early next year to look for signature patterns in the rate, frequency and size of vibrations that suggest a fracture is imminent.