Methods and devices for quantitative analysis of x-ray images
AssigneeImaging Therapeutics, Inc.
InventorPhilipp Lang
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention relates to network enabled analysis of x-ray images. Also described are devices comprising calibration phantoms; methods of using these devices; methods of formulating databases containing information regarding x-ray images; the databases themselves; and methods of manipulating the information and databases.
Claims37
An x-ray assembly for determining bone mineral density comprising
- an x-ray film cover
- x-ray film and
- a calibration phantom having length (L) and varying thickness (T) along the length and wherein the calibration phantom is attached to the x-ray film cover.
A method, comprising the steps of
- (a) providing x-ray film, and a calibration phantom having length (L) and varying
- thickness (T) along the length, wherein the thickness of the calibration phantom varies non-linearly along the length;
- (b) producing an x-ray image of an anatomical structure, wherein the x-ray image comprises the calibration phantom;
- (c) providing an expected calibration curve for the non-linear calibration phantom;
- (d) measuring attenuation at a multitude of points in the x-ray image of the calibration phantom;
- and
- (e) aligning the points measured in step (d) with the expected calibration curve generated in step (c), thereby generating a density calibration curve for the image.
A method, comprising:
- producing a set of x-ray images, wherein the x-ray images include a calibration phantom having length (L) and varying thickness (T) along the length;
- measuring attenuation at a multitude of points in the x-ray images of the calibration phantom, wherein each point is at known distance from a selected part of the phantom;
- generating density calibration curves that describes the relationship between measured attenuation and material thickness;
- and
- calculating the average of the density calibration curves to generate a reference calibration curve.
A method of generating a density calibration curve, comprising the steps of
- (a) generating a digital x-ray image of an anatomic structure that includes a wedge-shaped calibration phantom having length (L) and varying thickness (T) along the length;
- (b) generating an expected calibration curve for the wedge-shaped calibration phantom;
- and
- (c) measuring attenuation at a multitude of points in the x-ray image including the calibration phantom;
- (d) aligning the points measured in step (c) with the expected calibration curve generated in step (b), thereby generating a calibration curve for the image.
A kit comprising an x-ray film cover, x-ray film, a calibration phantom attached to the x-ray film cover, an x-ray imaging assembly and computer programs, wherein said computer programs analyze and assess bone mineral density.
A method comprising the step of analyzing an x-ray image obtained using an x-ray film cover, x-ray film, and a calibration phantom having length (L) and varying thickness (T) along the length;
- comparing a bone mineral density to a reference standard;
- making a diagnosis of osteoporosis if the bone mineral density is below the reference standard.
A calibration phantom comprising a plurality of geometric shapes, wherein a first shape of the plurality of geometric shapes is of a first geometric type, and a second shape of the plurality of geometric shapes is of a second geometric type different from the first geometric type.
An x-ray assembly for determining bone mineral density comprising
- an x-ray film cover;
- x-ray film and
- a calibration phantom having length (L) and varying thickness (T) along the length and wherein the calibration phantom is integrated into the film.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.