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U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Medical Devices

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UBIS 5000 Ultrasound Bone Sonometer - P000055


Product Name: UBIS 5000 Ultrasound Bone Sonometer
Manufacturer:  Diagnostic Medical Systems
Address: Parc de la Méditéranné, Chemin de la Foire, District de Montpellier
34470 Perols, France
Approval Date:  July 17, 2001
Approval Letter:http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/cdrh_docs/pdf/p000055a.pdf

What is it?  The UBIS 5000 Ultrasound Bone Sonometer is a portable medical device that uses ultrasound to measure the strength of the heel bone (calcaneus). Since the heel bone is similar to the bones in the hip and spine, this measurement can indicate the strength of those bones as well.

How does it work?  The UBIS 5000 Ultrasound Bone Sonometer sends a beam of ultrasound across the heel to a detector that measures the strength of the beam after it has passed through the bone. This is then compared to the average of measurements that have been obtained from young, healthy Caucasian (white) women. If the two measurements are similar, the patient's bone strength is considered normal. If the patient's measurement shows a lower strength than the normal value, this may indicate that the patient has osteoporosis, a thinning and weakening of the bone that can increase the risk of fracture. Although osteoporosis most often occurs in women past menopause, thinning and weakening of the bone can also occur in younger people with certain diseases. For these people, the measurement from the UBIS 5000 Ultrasound Bone Sonometer can be compared to normal values that take into account age, gender and ethnic background.

When is it used?  To measure the bone loss of women past menopause, as well as other patients who may have diseases that cause bone loss.

What will it accomplish?  The physician can use the results of the UBIS 5000 Ultrasound Bone Sonometer heel bone test, along with other clinical risk factors, to diagnose osteoporosis, to estimate the risk of fracture, and to detect other medical conditions that can result in bone loss.

When should it not be used?  

  • On patients under 20 or over 80 years old, as the meaning of measurements on such patients has not been determined
  • On feet with open skin or sores

What are the limitations of this and ALL machines that measure bone density?

  • A single reading may suggest an increased fracture risk, but cannot predict whether or not a fracture will occur.
  • Measurements should only be compared to other measurements from machines of the same make and model.
