Method and apparatus to determine bone mineral density utilizing a flat panel detector

A method for using a flat panel detector to measure bone mineral density, comprising:

• emitting X-rays from a dual energy X-ray source through at least one area of a patient's body sought to be imaged;
• receiving said X-rays passed through the patient's body by a flat panel detector;
• generating a first image, using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry, based on signals read-out of the flat panel detector, to diagnose a first disease state, wherein said first disease state constitutes one of lung cancer, breast cancer, pneumonia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, tuberculosis, bone fracture or an abnormally sized or shaped organ;
• generating a second image, using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry, based on signals read-out of the flat panel detector, to diagnose a second disease state, wherein said second disease state constitutes osteopenia;
• and
• displaying at least the first image to analyze the first disease state;
• and
• displaying information derived from said second image to analyze the second disease state.

A method for using a flat panel detector to diagnose two or more disease states, comprising:

• emitting X-rays from a dual energy X-ray source through first and second portions of a patient's body sought to be imaged;
• receiving X-rays through the use of a flat panel detector;
• generating at least first and second images, using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry, based on signals read-out of the flat panel detector, to diagnose first and second disease states, wherein said first disease state constitutes one of lung cancer, breast cancer, pneumonia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, tuberculosis, bone fracture or an abnormally sized or shaped organ and said second disease state constitutes osteopenia;
• and
• analyzing at least the first image for the first disease state and at least the second image for bone mineral density.

A method for screening multiple disease states using a flat panel detector comprising:

• emitting X-rays from a dual energy X-ray source through at least one area of a patient's body sought to be imaged while conducting a chest X-ray examination;
• emitting X-rays from a dual energy X-ray source through at least one area of a patient's body sought to be imaged while conducting a bone density test;
• receiving said X-rays passed through the patient's body by a flat panel detector;
• generating at least first and second images, using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry, based on signals read-out of the flat panel detector, to diagnose first and second disease states, wherein said first disease state constitutes one of lung cancer, breast cancer, pneumonia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, tuberculosis, bone fracture or an abnormally sized or shaped organ and said second disease state constitutes osteopenia;
• and
• displaying the at least two images to diagnose the first disease state and the second disease state.

An apparatus utilizing a flat panel detector to determine bone mineral density comprising:

• a dual energy X-ray emitter;
• a flat panel detector for receiving X-rays sent from said X-ray emitter;
• an image corrector, in communication with said flat panel detector, adapted to emit corrected image information;
• a basis material decomposer, in communication with said image corrector, comprising a calibration database, said decomposer being adapted to create first and second images, said first image comprising a bone image and said second image comprising a soft tissue image;
• a bone mineral density calculator, in communication with said basis material decomposer, said bone mineral density calculator being adapted to compute bone mineral density from said first image;
• and
• a display, in communication with said bone mineral density calculator, for displaying at least the computed bone mineral density.

A method for using a flat panel detector to determine bone mineral density, comprising:

• emitting X-rays from a dual energy X-ray source through at least one area of a patient's body sought to be imaged;
• receiving said X-rays passed through the patient's body by a flat panel detector;
• generating at least first and second images, using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry, based on signals read-out of the flat panel detector, said first image comprising a bone image and said second image comprising a soft tissue image;
• performing an analysis of at least said first image to calculate a bone mineral density;
• and
• displaying at least the calculated bone mineral density.