Table 2.

Output variables of the two reference point indentation devices

	BioDent*	OsteoProbe
Variables	1st ID, μm TID, μm IDI, μm Creep ID, μm US (ave of 3-last cycle), N/μm Energy (ave of 3-last cycle), μJ	BMSi (dimensionless ratio of indentation distances in sample and plastic)

^*These variables are the ones provided by the manufacturer software. Several groups have written analyses programs to assess cycle-by-cycle data which provides the opportunity to generate additional variables^(19,24). ID - indentation distance; TID - total indentation distance; IDI – indentation distance increase; US – unloading slope; BMSi – bone material strength index.