US6029078A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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System for assessing bone characteristics
Assignee: Hologic Inc
•
Filing: 1998-01-23
•
Granted: 2000-02-22
•
Expires: 2018-01-23
Abstract
Abstract A system and method for determining bone characteristic data is provided. The system combines a biochemical bone measuring unit with a densitometric bone measuring unit to determine the bone characteristic data. Once the bone characteristic data is ascertained, a determination of whether bone formation or bone resorption is occurring is made and future bone characteristics can be projected.
Inventors
- 👤 Joel B. Weinstein
- 👤 Donald Barry
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 17:16
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B6/00; A61B6/50; A61B6/505; A61B8/00; A61B8/08; A61B8/0875
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 52
Claim 1
Independent Claim
100 words
A method of projecting bone characteristics of a patient, comprising: reading a strip sample to derive therefrom current bone turnover data by directing light toward the strip sample and detecting light from the strip sample and generating therefrom signal data indicative of a predefined color wavelength and defining said current bone turnover data associated with the patient; obtaining current bone density data from the patient; and processing said current bone density data and said current turnover data to derive a projection of future bone characteristics based on directly combining said current bone density data and said current bone turnover data.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
100 words
A method of projecting bone characteristics of a patient, comprising: reading a strip sample to derive therefrom current bone turnover data by directing light toward the strip sample and detecting light from the strip sample and generating therefrom signal data indicative of a predefined color wavelength and defining said current bone turnover data associated with the patient; obtaining current bone density data from the patient; and processing said current bone density data and said current turnover data to derive a projection of future bone characteristics based on directly combining said current bone density data and said current bone turnover data.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
92 words
A bone measuring system, which comprises: means for processing data; a first bone measuring unit coupled to said processing means and configured to obtain dynamic bone characteristic data and to transfer said dynamic bone characteristic data to said processing means; and a second bone measuring unit coupled to said processing means and configured to obtain static bone characteristic data, and to transfer said static bone characteristic data to said processing means; said processing means directly combining said dynamic bone characteristic data and said static bone characteristic data to derive bone parameter data.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
92 words
A bone measuring system, which comprises: means for processing data; a first bone measuring unit coupled to said processing means and configured to obtain dynamic bone characteristic data and to transfer said dynamic bone characteristic data to said processing means; and a second bone measuring unit coupled to said processing means and configured to obtain static bone characteristic data, and to transfer said static bone characteristic data to said processing means; said processing means directly combining said dynamic bone characteristic data and said static bone characteristic data to derive bone parameter data.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system according to claim 2, wherein said dynamic bone characteristic data is obtained from a strip sample.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system according to claim 2, wherein said dynamic bone characteristic data comprises bone resorption data.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system according to claim 2, wherein said dynamic bone characteristic data comprises bone formation data.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system according to claim 2, wherein said static bone characteristic data comprises bone density data.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system according to claim 2, wherein said processing means processes said dynamic and static bone characteristic data from said first and second bone measuring units for subsequent numerical or graphical display.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
40 words
The system according to claim 2, wherein said processing means processes said dynamic and static bone characteristic data from said first and second bone measuring units and provides said bone parameter data in the form of projections of bone characteristics.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
42 words
The system according to claim 2, wherein said processing means processes said dynamic and static bone characteristic data from said first and second bone measuring units and provides said bone parameter data in the form of risk determinations of bone related injuries.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system according to claim 9, wherein said risk determination includes fracture risk.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
32 words
The system according to claims 2, wherein said dynamic bone characteristic data comprises bone resorption and bone formation data and said processing means processes said bone characteristic data to determine bone turnover.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system according to claim 2, wherein said first bone measuring unit is a unit measuring biochemical markers of bone.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system according to claim 2, wherein said second bone measuring unit is a densitometric bone measuring unit.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system according to claim 13, wherein said densitometric bone measuring unit is an ultrasound bone measuring unit.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system according to claim 13, wherein said densitometric bone measuring unit is an x-ray based unit having an x-ray source, an x-ray detector and a controller.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
34 words
The system according to claim 2, wherein said first bone measuring unit is coupled to said processing means so that data is transferred between said processing means and said first bone measuring unit serially.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
34 words
The system according to claim 2, wherein said second bone measuring unit is coupled to said processing means so that data is transferred between said processing means and said second bone measuring unit serially.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system according to claim 2, wherein said processing means comprises a computer.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
76 words
A bone measuring system, which comprises: means for processing data; dynamic bone measuring means coupled to said processing means, for obtaining dynamic bone characteristic data and transferring said dynamic bone characteristic data to said processing means; and static bone measuring means coupled to said processing means, for obtaining static bone characteristic data and for transferring said static bone characteristic data to said processing means; said processing means selectively directly combining said dynamic and static bone characteristics.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
76 words
A bone measuring system, which comprises: means for processing data; dynamic bone measuring means coupled to said processing means, for obtaining dynamic bone characteristic data and transferring said dynamic bone characteristic data to said processing means; and static bone measuring means coupled to said processing means, for obtaining static bone characteristic data and for transferring said static bone characteristic data to said processing means; said processing means selectively directly combining said dynamic and static bone characteristics.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system according to claim 19, wherein said dynamic bone characteristic data is obtained from strip sample means.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system according to claim 19, wherein said dynamic bone characteristic data comprises bone resorption data.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system according to claim 19, wherein said dynamic bone characteristic data comprises bone formation data.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system according to claim 19, wherein said static bone characteristic data comprises bone density data.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system according to claim 19, wherein said processing means processes said dynamic and static bone characteristic data from said dynamic and static bone measuring means, for subsequent numerical or graphical display.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
35 words
The system according to claim 19, wherein said processing means processes said dynamic and static bone characteristic data from said dynamic and static bone measuring means and provides as an output projections of bone characteristics.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
37 words
The system according to claim 19, wherein said processing means processes said dynamic and static bone characteristic data from said dynamic and static bone measuring means and provides as an output risk determinations of bone related injuries.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system according to claim 26, wherein said risk determination includes fracture risk.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
32 words
The system according to claims 19, wherein said dynamic bone characteristic data comprises bone resorption and bone formation data and said processing means processes said bone characteristic data to determine bone turnover.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system according to claim 19, wherein said dynamic bone measuring means comprises a unit measuring biochemical markers of bone.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system according to claim 19, wherein said static bone measuring means comprises densitometric bone measuring means.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system according to claim 30, wherein said densitometric bone measuring means comprises an ultrasound bone measuring unit.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system according to claim 30, wherein said densitometric bone measuring means comprises an x-ray based unit having an x-ray source, an x-ray detector and a controller.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
34 words
The system according to claim 19, wherein said dynamic bone measuring means is coupled to said processing means so that data is transferred between said processing means and said dynamic bone measuring means serially.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
34 words
The system according to claim 19, wherein said static bone measuring means is coupled to said processing means so that data is transferred between said processing means and said static bone measuring means serially.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system according to claim 19, wherein said processing means comprises a computer.
Claim 39
Independent Claim
74 words
A method for projecting bone characteristics of a patient, comprising: reading a strip sample by directing energy toward the strip sample and detecting energy resulting from impingement of said directed energy with the strip sample and generating therefrom dynamic bone characteristic data associated with the patient; obtaining static bone characteristic data for the patient; and projecting future bone characteristics based on directly combining said static bone characteristic data and said dynamic bone characteristic data.
Claim 40
Independent Claim
74 words
A method for projecting bone characteristics of a patient, comprising: reading a strip sample by directing energy toward the strip sample and detecting energy resulting from impingement of said directed energy with the strip sample and generating therefrom dynamic bone characteristic data associated with the patient; obtaining static bone characteristic data for the patient; and projecting future bone characteristics based on directly combining said static bone characteristic data and said dynamic bone characteristic data.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method according to claim 36, wherein said dynamic bone characteristic data comprises bone resorption data.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method according to claim 36, wherein said dynamic bone characteristic data comprises bone formation data.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method according to claim 36, wherein said static bone characteristic data comprises bone density data.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method according to claim 36, wherein said dynamic bone characteristic data comprises bone formation and bone resorption data.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method according to claim 40 further comprising determining bone turnover based on a relationship between said bone formation and bone resorption dynamic bone characteristic data.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method according to claim 41, wherein the step of projecting future bone characteristics is based on said static bone characteristic data and said bone turnover data.
Claim 47
Independent Claim
80 words
A method of obtaining bone characteristic estimates comprising: obtaining first bone data from a patient through a measurement free of the use of ionizing radiation or ultrasound energy; obtaining second bone data from the patient through a measurement that includes the use of at least one of ionizing radiation and ultrasound energy; computer-processing said data in a process free of the use of neural networks to provide bone characteristic estimates based on both the first and the second bone data.
Claim 48
Independent Claim
80 words
A method of obtaining bone characteristic estimates comprising: obtaining first bone data from a patient through a measurement free of the use of ionizing radiation or ultrasound energy; obtaining second bone data from the patient through a measurement that includes the use of at least one of ionizing radiation and ultrasound energy; computer-processing said data in a process free of the use of neural networks to provide bone characteristic estimates based on both the first and the second bone data.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as in claim 42 in which said obtaining of first bone data comprises obtaining bone data from biochemical marker testing.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method as in claim 44 in which said computer-processing of said data comprises directly combining said first and second bone data to provide said bone characteristics estimates, and wherein said estimates comprise predictions of future bone characteristics of the patient.
Claim 51
Independent Claim
108 words
A system for obtaining bone characteristic estimates comprising a first measuring device producing first bone data from a patient through a measurement free of the use of ionizing radiation or ultrasound energy; a second measuring device producing second bone data from the patient through a measurement that includes the use of at least one of ionizing radiation and ultrasound energy; a computerized processing unit coupled to said first and second measuring devices to receive said data therefrom and to process the received data in a process free of the use of neural networks to provide bone characteristic estimates based on both the first and the second bone data.
Claim 52
Independent Claim
108 words
A system for obtaining bone characteristic estimates comprising a first measuring device producing first bone data from a patient through a measurement free of the use of ionizing radiation or ultrasound energy; a second measuring device producing second bone data from the patient through a measurement that includes the use of at least one of ionizing radiation and ultrasound energy; a computerized processing unit coupled to said first and second measuring devices to receive said data therefrom and to process the received data in a process free of the use of neural networks to provide bone characteristic estimates based on both the first and the second bone data.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-02-21 | 2003-08-23 | 2004-02-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-02-21 | 2007-08-23 | 2008-02-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-02-21 | 2011-08-23 | 2012-02-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |