Methods for the compensation of imaging technique in the processing of radiographic images
The present invention relates to methods and devices for analyzing x-ray images. In particular, devices, methods and algorithms are provided that allow for the accurate and reliable evaluation of bone structure and macro-anatomical parameters from x-ray images.
1. A method of predicting a fracture path in bone using a computer system comprising:
(a) obtaining image data of the bone in the computer system;
(b) defining two or more positions in the image;
(c) placing a region of interest (ROI) at each of the two or more positions;
(d) analyzing electronically each of the ROIs to determine at least one value for two or more parameters selected from the group consisting of bone density, bone micro-architecture, bone macro-anatomy, biomechanical parameters and combinations thereof;
(e) for each analyzed parameter, assigning electronically the at least one value from each ROI to its respective position, thereby creating a parameter map for each analyzed parameter;
(f) generating electronically a composite parameter map from the parameter maps of step (e); and
(g) analyzing the composite parameter map.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the ROIs are overlapping.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the two or more positions analyzed are at regular intervals in the image.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the two or more positions analyzed are at irregular intervals in the image.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the two or more parameters is bone micro-architecture and the two or more positions analyzed are at regular intervals in the image.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the two or more parameters is bone macro-anatomy and the two or more positions analyzed are at irregular intervals in the image.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the image is two-dimensional.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the two-dimensional image is an x-ray image.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the image is three-dimensional.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the image is an electronic image.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the bone is part of an osteoporosis subject.
12. The method of claim 1 wherein the analysis of step (d) and/or step (g) is watershed segmentation analysis and/or Markov random field analysis.
13. A method of predicting the risk of fracture of bone using a computer system comprising:
(a) obtaining image data of the bone in the computer system;
(b) defining two or more positions in the image;
(c) placing a region of interest (ROI) at each of the two or more positions;
(d) analyzing electronically each ROI to determine at least one value for one or more parameters selected from the group consisting of bone density, bone micro-architecture, bone macro-anatomy, biomechanical parameters and combinations thereof;
(e) for each analyzed parameter, assigning electronically the at least one value from each ROI to its respective position, thereby creating a parameter map for each analyzed parameter;
(f) generating electronically a biomechanical model from the one or more parameter maps of step (e);
(g) calculating, using the computer system, simulated force vectors that would occur during a fracture incident to the generated biomechanical model; and
(h) determining electronically the minimum forces required for fracture to occur, thereby estimating the risk of fracture.
14. A method of predicting the risk of fracture of bone comprising:
(a) predicting a fracture path according to the method of claim 1 ; and
(b) evaluating one or more selected bone parameters along the predicted fracture path, thereby estimating the risk of fracture.
15. A method of predicting the risk of fracture of bone comprising:
(a) predicting a fracture path according to the method of claim 13 ; and
(b) evaluating one or more selected bone parameters along the predicted fracture path, thereby estimating the risk of fracture.
16. The method of claim 13 , wherein the ROIs are overlapping.
17. The method of claim 13 , wherein the two or more positions analyzed are at regular intervals in the image.
18. The method of claim 13 , wherein the two or more positions analyzed are at irregular intervals in the image.
19. The method of claim 13 , wherein the one or more parameter is bone micro-architecture and the two or more positions analyzed are at regular intervals in the image.
20. The method of claim 13 , wherein the one or more parameter is bone macro-anatomy and the two or more positions analyzed are at irregular intervals in the image.
21. The method of claim 13 , wherein the image is two-dimensional.
22. The method of claim 21 , wherein the two-dimensional image is an x-ray image.
23. The method of claim 13 , wherein the image is three-dimensional.
24. The method of claim 13 , wherein the image is an electronic image.
25. The method of claim 13 , wherein the bone is part of an osteoporosis subject.