US5772592A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method for diagnosing and monitoring osteoporosis
Assignee: BONALYSE Oy
•
Filing: 1996-01-08
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Granted: 1998-06-30
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Expires: 2016-01-08
Abstract
Abstract A method for diagnosing and monitoring osteoporosis includes the steps of obtaining volumetric bone mineral density and cross-sectional area information of a bone of a patient utilizing computerized tomography, displaying the information in matrix image form wherein each pixel indicates the density of the bone tissue in the image area at that point, distinguishing pixels depicting bone tissue from the rest of the image utilizing a lower-limit criteria, calculating the mass distribution of bone tissue meeting and exceeding the criteria, and quantifying the condition of the patient's bone tissue as a function of the calculated mass distribution of bone tissue.
Inventors
- 👤 Shu Lin Cheng
- 👤 Jussi Timonen
- 👤 Harri Suominen
- 👤 Jari Toivanen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 17:01
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B6/00; A61B6/50; A61B6/505
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
107 words
A method for diagnosing and monitoring osteoporosis characterized by the steps of: obtaining volumetric bone mineral density and cross-sectional area information of a bone of a patient utilizing computerized tomography; displaying the information in matrix image form wherein each pixel indicates the density of the bone tissue in the image area at that point; distinguishing pixels depicting bone tissue from the rest of the image utilizing a lower-limit criteria; calculating density and mass distribution of bone tissue over the image meeting and exceeding the criteria; and quantifying a condition of the patient's bone tissue as a function of the calculated density and mass distribution of bone tissue.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
107 words
A method for diagnosing and monitoring osteoporosis characterized by the steps of: obtaining volumetric bone mineral density and cross-sectional area information of a bone of a patient utilizing computerized tomography; displaying the information in matrix image form wherein each pixel indicates the density of the bone tissue in the image area at that point; distinguishing pixels depicting bone tissue from the rest of the image utilizing a lower-limit criteria; calculating density and mass distribution of bone tissue over the image meeting and exceeding the criteria; and quantifying a condition of the patient's bone tissue as a function of the calculated density and mass distribution of bone tissue.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1 characterized in that calculating the density and mass distribution includes quantifying the surface-area moment of inertia of the bone weighted for density.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 2 characterized in that quantifying the surface-area moment of inertia includes calculating moments of inertia of the bone in the principal anatomic directions of the bone, anterior-posterior and medial-lateral.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 2 characterized in that calculating the density and mass distribution includes calculating the principal, maximum and minimum, moments of inertia of the bone.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 characterized in that calculating the mass distribution includes calculating the polar mass distribution of the bone.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 characterized in that calculating the mass distribution includes calculating the annular mass distribution.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 characterized in that the bone is a tibia of the patient.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 characterized in that the bone is a femur of the patient.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-06-29 | 2001-12-29 | 2002-06-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-06-29 | 2005-12-29 | 2006-06-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-06-29 | 2009-12-29 | 2010-06-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |