US6205348B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and system for the computerized radiographic analysis of bone
Assignee: Arch Development Corp
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Filing: 1999-04-26
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Granted: 2001-03-20
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Expires: 2019-04-26
Abstract
Abstract A computerized method and system for the radiographic analysis of bone structure and risk of future fracture with or without the measurement of bone mass. Techniques including texture analysis for use in quantitating the bone structure and risk of future fracture. The texture analysis of the bone structure incorporates directionality information, for example in terms of the angular dependence of the RMS variation and first moment of the power spectrum of a ROI in the bony region of interest. The system also includes using dual energy imaging in order to obtain measures of both bone mass and bone structure with one exam. Specific applications are given for the analysis of regions within the vertebral bodies on conventional spine radiographs. Techniques include novel features that characterize the power spectrum of the bone structure and allow extraction of directionality features with which to characterize the spatial distribution and thickness of the bone trabeculae. These features are then merged using artificial neural networks in order to yield a likelihood of risk of future fracture. In addition, a method and system is presented in which dual-energy imaging techniques are used to yield measures of both bone mass and bone structure with one low-dose radiographic examination; thus, making the system desirable for screening (for osteoporosis and risk of future fracture).
Inventors
- 👤 Maryellen L. Giger
- 👤 Kunio Doi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 17:33
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06T; G06T7/00; G06T7/0002; G06T7/0012; A; A61; A61B; A61B6/00; A61B6/48; A61B6/482; A61B6/50; A61B6/505; A61B6/58; A61B6/582; A61B6/583; A61B6/40; A61B6/4035; A61B6/4042; G06T2207/00; G06T2207/10; G06T2207/10116; G06T2207/30; G06T2207/30004; G06T2207/30008; G06T2207/30012
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 36
Claim 1
Independent Claim
76 words
A system for analyzing bone, comprising: a bone image acquisition device; an image processing circuit connected to said image acquisition device; a bone texture measure circuit connected to said image processing circuit, wherein said texture measure circuit comprises first means for determining a root mean square variation and a first moment of a power spectrum and for determining at least one of an angular dependence of said variation and an angular dependence of said first moment.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
76 words
A system for analyzing bone, comprising: a bone image acquisition device; an image processing circuit connected to said image acquisition device; a bone texture measure circuit connected to said image processing circuit, wherein said texture measure circuit comprises first means for determining a root mean square variation and a first moment of a power spectrum and for determining at least one of an angular dependence of said variation and an angular dependence of said first moment.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
A system as recited in claim 1 , comprising: an analysis circuit connected to said texture measure circuit.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
A system as recited in claim 2 , wherein said analysis circuit comprises: a neural network adapted to yield a likelihood of fracture.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
A system as recited in claim 2 , comprising: a superimposing circuit connected to said analysis circuit; and a display.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
A system as recited in claim 1 , wherein said processing circuit comprises: a region of interest selection circuit connected to said acquisition device; and a trend correction circuit connected to said selection circuit.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
166 words
A system as recited in claim 1 , wherein said first means comprises: means for determining said root mean square variation as R, where: R = ∫ - ∞ ∞ ∫ - ∞ ∞ V 2 ( u , v ) | F ( u , v ) | 2 u v means for determining said first moment as M, where: M = ∫ - ∞ ∞ ∫ - ∞ ∞ u 2 + v 2 V 2 ( u , v ) F ( u , v ) 2 u v ∫ - ∞ ∞ ∫ - ∞ ∞ V 2 ( u , v ) F ( u , v ) 2 u v where: V(u,v) is a filter function; and F(u,v) is a power spectrum.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
142 words
A system as recited in claim 1 , wherein said first means comprises: means for determining an angular dependence R θ of said variation as: R E ( θ 1 ≦ θ < θ 2 ) = Σ m Σ n F m , n 2 for θ 1 ≦ tan - 1 ( n m ) < θ 2 determining an angular dependence M θ of said first moment as: M E ( θ 1 ≦ θ < θ 2 ) = Σ m Σ n m 2 + n 2 F m , n 2 Σ m Σ n F m , n 2 for θ 1 ≦ tan - 1 ( n m ) < θ 2 .
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
48 words
A system as recited in claim 1 , wherein said texture measure circuit comprises: means for dividing said power spectrum into a number of sectors; and means for determining said angular dependence of said variation and said angular dependence of said first moment for each of said sectors.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
A system as recited in claim 7 , wherein said texture measure circuit comprises: means for determining a minimum of said angular dependence of said first moment.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
131 words
A system as recited in claim 1 , wherein said first means comprises: means for determining a root mean square variation of said power spectrum; means for determining an angular dependence of said variation; means for determining a maximum of said angular dependence; means for determining a minimum of said angular dependence; means for determining a standard deviation of said variation; means for determining a relative standard deviation of said variation; means for determining a first moment of said power spectrum; means for determining an angular dependence of said first moment; means for determining a maximum of said angular dependence; means for determining a minimum of said angular dependence; means for determining a standard deviation of said first moment; and means for determining a relative standard deviation of said first moment.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
100 words
A system as recited in claim 10 , comprising: an analysis circuit connected to said texture measure circuit and adapted to receive selected of said variation, said angular dependence of said variation, said maximum of said angular dependence, said minimum of said angular dependence, said standard deviation of said variation, said relative standard deviation of said variation said first moment, said angular dependence of said first moment, said maximum of said angular dependence, said minimum of said angular dependence, said standard deviation of said first moment, said relative standard deviation of said first moment, and yield a likelihood of fracture.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
50 words
A system as recited in claim 1 , comprising: an analysis circuit connected to said texture measure circuit comprising: means for inputting at least one texture measure determined by said texture measure circuit; and means for determining a likelihood of risk of fracture using said at least one texture measure.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
117 words
A system as recited in claim 1 , wherein said texture measure circuit comprises means for determining texture measures selected from at least one of: a root means square variation of said power spectrum; a first angular dependence of said variation; a first maximum of said angular dependence; a first minimum of said angular dependence; a first standard deviation of said variation; a first relative standard deviation of said variation; a first moment of said power spectrum; a second angular dependence of said first moment; a second maximum of said angular dependence; a second minimum of said angular dependence; a second standard deviation of said first moment; and a second relative standard deviation of said first moment.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
39 words
A system as recited in claim 13 , comprising: an analysis circuit connected to said texture measure circuit comprising: means for merging said texture measures; and means for determining a likelihood of risk of fracture using said texture measures.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
A system as recited in claim 1 , further comprising: a bone mass circuit connected to said region of interest selection circuit.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
A system as recited in claim 15 , wherein said bone mass circuit comprises: an integration circuit; and a weighted sum circuit connected to said integration circuit.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
23 words
A system as recited in claim 15 , comprising: an analysis circuit connected to said bone mass circuit and said texture measure circuit.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
63 words
A system as recited in claim 15 , wherein said bone mass circuit comprises: means for integrating a region of interest in a first image obtained by said image acquisition device and for integrating a second region of interest in a second image obtained by said image acquisition device; and means for determining bone mass using integrated first and second regions of interest.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
20 words
A system as recited in claim 18 , wherein said means for determining bone mass comprises a weighted sum circuit.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
104 words
A system as recited in claim 15 , wherein said bone mass circuit comprises: a integration circuit integrating a first region of interest in a first image to obtain a first integration value, said first image being obtained from said image acquisition device at a first energy level, and integrating a second region of interest in a second image to obtain a second integration value, said second image being obtained from said image acquisition device at a second energy level higher than said first energy level; and a weighted sum circuit determining first and second weighted sums of said first and second integration values.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
19 words
A system as recited in claim 1 , wherein said texture measure circuit comprises: means for performing multi-fractal analysis.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
65 words
A system as recited in claim 21 , wherein said means comprises: means for determining a surface area of a region of interest in an image, obtained from said image acquisition device, at each of a plurality of levels of resolution; means for determining a slope using said surface areas and said levels of resolution; and means for determining a fractal dimension using said slope.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
22 words
A system as recited in claim 22 , comprising: means for determining said fractal dimension as D=2−H, where H is said slope.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
62 words
A system as recited in claim 22 , comprising: means for determining a first surface area of said region of interest based upon said pixels; means for selectively combining said pixels to obtain combined pixels; means for determining a second surface area based upon said combined pixels; and means for determining a fractal dimension based upon said first and second surface areas.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
92 words
A system for analyzing bone, comprising: a bone image acquisition device; an image processing circuit connected to said image acquisition device; a bone texture measure circuit connected to said image processing circuit, wherein said texture measure circuit comprises: a Fourier transform circuit; a power spectrum circuit connected to said Fourier transform circuit; and a first circuit adapted to determine at least one texture measure from an angular dependence of at least one of a root mean square variation and a first moment of a power spectrum determined using said power spectrum circuit.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
92 words
A system for analyzing bone, comprising: a bone image acquisition device; an image processing circuit connected to said image acquisition device; a bone texture measure circuit connected to said image processing circuit, wherein said texture measure circuit comprises: a Fourier transform circuit; a power spectrum circuit connected to said Fourier transform circuit; and a first circuit adapted to determine at least one texture measure from an angular dependence of at least one of a root mean square variation and a first moment of a power spectrum determined using said power spectrum circuit.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
18 words
A system as recited in claim 25 , comprising: an analysis circuit connected to said texture means circuit.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
23 words
A system as recited in claim 25 , wherein said analysis circuit comprises: a neural network adapted to yield a likelihood of fracture.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
20 words
A system as recited in claim 25 , comprising: a superimposing circuit connected to said analysis circuit; and a display.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
165 words
A system as recited in claim 25 , wherein first circuit is adapted to determine said root mean square variation as R, where: R = ∫ - ∞ ∞ ∫ - ∞ ∞ V 2 ( u , v ) | F ( u , v ) | 2 u v and to determine said first moment as M, where: M = ∫ - ∞ ∞ ∫ - ∞ ∞ u 2 + v 2 V 2 ( u , v ) F ( u , v ) 2 u v ∫ - ∞ ∞ ∫ - ∞ ∞ V 2 ( u , v ) F ( u , v ) 2 u v where: V(u,v) is a filter function; and F(u,v) is a power spectrum.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
145 words
A system as recited in claim 25 , wherein said first circuit is further adapted to determine an angular dependence R θ of said variation as: R Θ ( Θ 1 ≦ Θ < Θ 2 ) = Σ m Σ n F m , n 2 for Θ 1 ≦ tan - 1 ( n m ) < Θ 2 and to determine an angular dependence M θ of said first moment as: M Θ ( Θ 1 ≦ Θ < Θ 2 ) = Σ m Σ n m 2 + n 2 F m , n 2 Σ m Σ n F m , n 2 for Θ 1 ≦ tan - 1 ( n m ) < Θ 2 .
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
47 words
A system as recited in claim 25 , wherein said first circuit is further adapted to divide said power spectrum into a number of sectors, and to determine said angular dependence of said variation and said angular dependence of said first moment for each of said sectors.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
26 words
A system as recited in claim 25 , wherein first circuit is further adapted to determine a minimum of said angular dependence of said first moment.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
98 words
A system as recited in claim 25 , wherein said first circuit is adapted to determine: a root mean square variation of said power spectrum; an angular dependence of said variation; a maximum of said angular dependence; a minimum of said angular dependence; a standard deviation of said variation; a relative standard deviation of said variation; a first moment of said power spectrum; an angular dependence of said first moment; a maximum of said angular dependence; a minimum of said angular dependence; a standard deviation of said first moment; and a relative standard deviation of said first moment.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
100 words
A system as recited in claim 33 , comprising: an analysis circuit connected to said texture measure circuit and adapted to receive selected of said variation, said angular dependence of said variation, said maximum of said angular dependence, said minimum of said angular dependence, said standard deviation of said variation, said relative standard deviation of said variation said first moment, said angular dependence of said first moment, said maximum of said angular dependence, said minimum of said angular dependence, said standard deviation of said first moment, said relative standard deviation of said first moment, and yield a likelihood of fracture.
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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) | 2004-03-19 | 2004-09-18 | 2005-03-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-03-19 | 2008-09-18 | 2009-03-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-03-19 | 2012-09-18 | 2013-03-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |