Tissue diffractometer for determining a diagnostic indicator

A system comprising:

• a fixture configured to position a region of skin of a patient within a measurement region;
• an X-ray source coupled to the fixture and configured to emit an X-ray beam that overlaps with the measurement region, wherein the X-ray source is configured to emit a collimated X-ray beam with an approximately rectangular or circular cross-section, and wherein the X-ray source comprises:
• an X-ray radiation source that forms a mono-energetic radiation spectrum;
• a collimating aperture;
• and
• a first monochromator;
• an X-ray receiver coupled to the fixture, the X-ray receiver comprising a coordinate-sensitive digital detector of X-rays;
• and
• one or more processors coupled to the X-ray receiver, wherein the one or more processors are configured to control the X-ray source and the X-ray receiver, to collect X-ray diffraction data from the X-ray receiver, to process the X-ray diffraction data, and to determine a diagnostic indicator comprising a probability score for a likelihood of one or more physiological or pathological conditions, based on the processed X-ray diffraction data,
• wherein the X-ray source emits incident X-rays that interact with the region of skin in the measurement region, and wherein the fixture is configured to position a surface of the region of skin such that a relative position and orientation between the incident X-rays and a surface of the region of skin is configured for grazing incidence X-ray diffraction.