Radiological scaling and alignment device

A radiological scaling device for use in determining a size of an anatomic structure on an X-ray image, said radiological scaling device comprising:

• two radio-opaque members separated by a predetermined known distance, and each having a radio-lucent visualization gap provided therein;
• wherein the predetermined known distance is a total length between one of inner and outer end points of the radio-opaque members;
• and
• wherein the total length is approximately 2.0 cm, and the radio-lucent visualization gaps are equal in size and are each approximately 0.3-0.5 mm in length.

An adhesive tape for use in determining a size of an anatomic structure on an X-ray image, comprising:

• a plurality of longitudinally arranged radio-opaque members each having a predetermined known dimension associated therewith and each having first and second radio-lucent visualization gaps positioned symmetrically at respective end portions thereof;
• and
• a plurality of indicia each corresponding to a respective one of said radio-opaque members;
• wherein the predetermined known dimension associated with each of the radio-opaque members is a total length between outer end points of each of the radio-opaque members;
• and
• wherein the total length of each of the radio-opaque members is approximately 2.0 cm, and the first and second radio-lucent visualization gaps are equal in size and are each approximately 0.3-0.5 mm in length.

A method for determining a size of an anatomic structure comprising:

• arranging a radio-opaque member in a vicinity of the anatomic structure such that the radio-opaque member is aligned to be:
• (i) in substantially a same plane as the anatomic structure between an X-ray tube and a film, and (ii) substantially perpendicular to an X-ray beam emitted by the X-ray tube, said radio-opaque member having a predetermined known dimension associated therewith and including at least one visualization gap;
• producing an X-ray image including at least one gap corresponding to the at least one visualization gap of the radio-opaque member to thereby confirm that the radio-opaque member has been properly aligned substantially perpendicular to the X-ray beam;
• determining an apparent length of the known dimension and an apparent length of the anatomic structure on the X-ray image;
• calculating the size of the anatomic structure based on the known dimension, and the measured apparent lengths of the known dimension and the anatomic structure.