Method and apparatus for measuring spinal characteristics of a patient
OwnerAlbert Davydovinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In a system for analyzing the spine of a patient, an X-ray is taken at one location, and the resulting X-ray image is transmitted to a remote location. At the remote location, the raw image is presented to a user who then selects some of the vertices of a polygon approximating the shape of the vertebrae in the X-ray. A processor is then used to calculate the position of the remaining vertices. The idealized shapes are then used to generate a report indicative of the spine. If necessary, a positioner is placed on the patient while the X-ray is taken and the image of the positioner is used to determine an angle of distortion of the vertebrae image and a scaling factor that can be used to determine the actual size of the vertebrae and the spatial spinal segmental relationship.
Claims16
A method for analyzing a spine of a patient comprising the steps of:
- securing a positioner to the spine of the patient, the positioner having a known orientation and size and comprising a compass;
- using the compass of the positioner to position the patient with respect to an X-Ray source such that the patient is positioned along a first axis of the compass and is perpendicular to a second axis of the compass, the first axis being perpendicular to the second axis;
- receiving at least one X-ray of a lateral vertebrae of the spine;
- generating an idealized shape for said vertebrae based on information received from a user;
- determining physical characteristics of said idealized shape;
- and
- generating a report of said vertebrae based on a set of rules.
An apparatus for analyzing X-ray images of vertebra of a patient'spine comprising:
- an X-ray source emitting an X-ray beam directed at the patient;
- a positioner secured to the spine of the patient, the positioner having a known orientation and size and comprising a compass with a first axis and a second axis, the first axis being perpendicular to the second axis anti the second axis being calibrated to be parallel to the X-ray beam emitted by the X-ray source, the compass being operable position the patient with respect to the X-ray source such that the patient is located along the first axis of the compass and perpendicular to the second axis of the compass;
- a receiver receiving raw X-ray images;
- a screen presenting said raw X-ray images on a screen;
- a user input receiving information from a user indicative of points of interest on said raw X-ray images;
- a processor configured to convert said raw X-ray images into corresponding idealized shapes for the vertebrae based on said information and to generate a report based on said idealized shapes.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.