# US 10,478,117 B2 · Early detection of reduced bone formation with an NMR scanner > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,478,117 B2 - Document ID: US10478117B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/565,171 - Filed: 2016-04-07 - Published: 2018-04-26 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2015-04-08 - Assignees: Ramot at Tel-Aviv University Ltd. - Applicants: Ramot at Tel-Aviv University Ltd. - Inventors: Uri Nevo; Itzhak Binderman; Yifat Sarda; Elad Bergman - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10478117B2 ## CPC - A61B 5/4509: {Bone density determination} - A61B 5/0037: {Performing a preliminary scan, e.g. a prescan for identifying a region of interest} - A61B 5/055: involving electronic [EMR] or nuclear [NMR] magnetic resonance, e.g. magnetic resonance imaging - A61B 5/4504: {Bones (A61B5/4547 takes precedence)} - A61B 5/4839: {combined with drug delivery} - A61B 5/4848: {Monitoring or testing the effects of treatment, e.g. of medication} - A61B 5/486: {Biofeedback (using electroencephalography [EEG] A61B5/375)} - A61B 5/4872: {Body fat} - A61B 5/7275: {Determining trends in physiological measurement data; Predicting development of a medical condition based on physiological measurements, e.g. determining a risk factor} - G01R 33/4812: {MR combined with X-ray or computed tomography [CT]} - G01R 33/543: {Control of the operation of the MR system, e.g. setting of acquisition parameters prior to or during MR data acquisition, dynamic shimming, use of one or more scout images for scan plane prescription (G01R33/546 takes precedence)} - G01R 33/5608: {Data processing and visualization specially adapted for MR, e.g. for feature analysis and pattern recognition on the basis of measured MR data, segmentation of measured MR data, edge contour detection on the basis of measured MR data, for enhancing measured MR data in terms of signal-to-noise ratio by means of noise filtering or apodization, for enhancing measured MR data in terms of resolution by means for deblurring, windowing, zero filling, or generation of gray-scaled images, colour-coded images or images displaying vectors instead of pixels (image data processing or generation, in general G06T)} - A61B 2560/0431: Portable apparatus, e.g. comprising a handle or case - A61B 2576/00: Medical imaging apparatus involving image processing or analysis (A61B1/00009, A61B6/52 and A61B8/52 take precedence) - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - G01R: MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES (indicating correct tuning of resonant circuits H03J3/12) ## Abstract A method for early detection of bone deficiency in a patient, comprising: collecting NMR signals of a bone marrow volume in a bone of the patient having normal bone density levels which are not indicative of bone deficiency as indicated by X-ray; and analyzing said collected NMR signals to detect at least a presence or absence of a preclinical stage of bone deficiency in said bone. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for monitoring treatment of bone deficiency in a patient, comprising: collecting NMR signals of a bone marrow volume in a bone of the patient, at a first time point, using a stray field non-homogeneous NMR scanner; repeating the collecting of NMR signals at least at a second time point, at least six weeks after the first time point; the patient receiving a treatment for bone deficiency, between the first time point and the second time point; analyzing the NMR signals collected at the first time point and the second time point, comprising estimating one or both of adipose tissue content and changes in adipose tissue content of the bone marrow, providing feedback on the treatment. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the bone of the patient has normal bone density levels which are not indicative of bone deficiency as indicated by X-ray. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein said analyzing comprises extracting, from said collected NMR signals, at least one parameter out of: T1 relaxation time, T2 relaxation time, T2* relaxation time, and apparent diffusion coefficient. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein said adipose tissue content comprises at least one of a volume fraction of adipocytes and a population of adipocytes in said bone marrow volume. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein estimating comprises using one or both of a ratio between T1 and T2 and a ratio between T1 and T2* to indicate changes in adipose tissue content. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein repeating the collecting of NMR signals is done also at one or more additional time points, and the method also comprises analyzing the NMR signals collected at the additional time points, providing additional feedback on the treatment. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein said method is performed without applying imaging pulses to said bone marrow volume. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein collecting the NMR signals the second time is done before changes in bone density in response to said treatment can be detected using X-ray. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein said treatment is in the form of one or more of use of pharmaceutical agents, a dietary change, and a change in physical activity. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, further comprising performing a scout scan of said bone to locate said bone marrow volume. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein said analyzing comprises performing at least one of a one dimensional and multi-dimensional analysis of one or more of T1 relaxation time, T2 relaxation time, T2* relaxation time, and ADC, extracted from said collected NMR signals. ### Claim 12 A method for monitoring treatment of bone deficiency in a patient, comprising: collecting NMR signals of a bone marrow volume in a bone of the patient, at a first time point, without applying imaging pulses to the bone marrow volume; repeating the collecting of NMR signals at least at a second time point, at least six weeks after the first time point; the patient receiving a treatment for bone deficiency, between the first time point and the second time point; analyzing the NMR signals collected at the first time point and the second time point, comprising estimating one or both of adipose tissue content and changes in adipose tissue content of the bone marrow, providing feedback on the treatment. ### Claim 13 A method for monitoring treatment of bone deficiency in a patient, comprising: collecting NMR signals of a bone marrow volume in a bone of the patient, at a first time point; repeating the collecting of NMR signals at least at a second time point, at least six weeks after the first time point; the patient receiving a treatment for bone deficiency, between the first time point and the second time point; analyzing the NMR signals collected at the first time point and the second time point, comprising using one or both of a ratio between T1 and T2 and a ratio between T1 and T2* to indicate changes in adipose tissue content of the bone marrow, providing feedback on the treatment.