Estimating risk of future bone fracture utilizing three-dimensional bone density model

1. A computer-implemented method for analyzing a patient's body part of interest to assess bone strength and/or risk of future fracture, said method comprising:

obtaining a priori information regarding the body part of interest, said a priori information comprising a three-dimensional (3D) generic model of a comparable body part;

performing X-ray absorptiometric scans of the patient's body part of interest and collecting X-ray absorptiometry data from the X-ray absorptiometric scans, said data being derived using x-ray imaging detectors included in a computer-driven data acquisition system, said data representing a plurality of two-dimensional (2D) images of the patient's body part, each of said 2D images of the patient's body part being at a respective orientation of an imaging x-ray beam relative to the patient's body part;

constructing a three-dimensional model of the patient's body part of interest, by utilizing the a priori information along with the X-ray absorptiometric data, said constructing comprising operating computerized equipment to carry out the steps of:

(i) obtaining two-dimensional (2D) projection views of the 3D generic model that correspond in orientation to the 2D images of the patient's body part,

(ii) comparing each of the 3D projection views of the generic model with the corresponding 2D image of the patient's body part to calculate a cost function,

(iii) modifying the 3D model according to said cost function, and

(iv) repeating steps (i) through (iii), each time using in step (i) the 3D model as modified in the previous iteration of step (iii), until a selected threshold has been reached;

performing measurements of various geometric parameters on the three-dimensional model as modified through said constructing, and determining at least one of geometric and structural properties of the patient's body part; and

estimating force of a hypothetical fall by the patient;

wherein said structural properties include bone strength, and said bone strength is considered in combination with one or more other parameters to estimate said force of the fall.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said a priori information is obtained from an anatomical atlas or statistical atlas of the body part of interest.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising modifying the 3D model according to said cost function in a manner that reduces a value of the cost function.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein said a priori information is obtained from an anatomical atlas or a statistical atlas of the body part of interest, said anatomical or statistical atlas utilizes eigenvectors to represent anatomical variations, and the cost function is minimized by applying a post-and-scale technique.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein said at least one of the geometric and structural properties include at least one of cross sectional moment of inertia, section modulus and buckling ratio.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein said other parameters include one or more of age, height, weight, hone mass index and soft tissue over bone.

7. A system for analyzing a patient's body part of interest to assess bone strength and/or risk of future fracture, said apparatus comprising:

a hone densitometer configured to perform X-ray absorptiometric scans of the patient's body part of interest, collect X-ray absorptiometry data from the scans, and form a plurality of two-dimensional (2D) images of the patient's body part, each of said 2D images of the patient's body part being taken at a respective orientation of an imaging x-ray beam relative to the patient's body part; and

a processor configured to obtain a priori information regarding the body part of interest, said a priori information comprising a three-dimensional (3D) generic model of a comparable body part, and to construct a three-dimensional model of the patient's body part of interest by:

(i) obtaining two-dimensional (2D) projection views of the 3D generic model that correspond in orientation to the 2D images of the patient's body part,

(ii) comparing each of the 2D projection views of the generic model with the corresponding 2D image of the patient's body part to calculate a cost function,

(iii) modifying the 3D model according to said cost function, and

(iv) repeating steps (i) through (iii), each time using in step (i) the 3D model as modified in the previous iteration of step (iii), until a selected threshold has been reached, and

said processor being further configured to perform measurements of various geometric parameters on the three-dimensional model constructed by said processor and determine at least one of geometric and structural properties of the patient's body part;

wherein said structural properties determined by said processor include bone strength, and said processor is configured to utilize said hone strength in combination with one or more other parameters to estimate force of a fall by the patient.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein said processor is configured to obtain said a priori information from an anatomical atlas or a statistical atlas of the body part of interest.

9. The system of claim 7 , wherein said processor is further configured to carry out said modifying of the 3D model according to said cost function in a manner that reduces a value of the cost function.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein said processor is configured to obtain said a priori information from an anatomical atlas or a statistical atlas utilizing eigenvectors to represent anatomical variations, and the cost function is minimized by applying a post-and-scale technique.

11. The system of claim 7 , wherein said at least one of the geometric and structural properties includes at least one of cross sectional moment of inertia, section modulus and buckling ratio.

12. The system of claim 7 , wherein said other parameters include one or more of age, height, weight, bone mass index and soft tissue over bone.

13. A program storage device tangibly and non-transitorily embodying one or more programs of instructions executable by a computer to perform the steps of:

obtaining a priori information regarding a patient's body part of interest, said a priori information comprising a three-dimensional (3D) generic model of a comparable body part;

obtaining X-ray absorptiometry data from X-ray absorptiometric scans of the patient's body part, said data being generated using imaging x-ray detectors of a computer-driven data acquisition system, and said data representing a plurality of two-dimensional (2D) images of the patient's body part, each of said 2D images of the patient's body part being at a respective orientation of an imaging x-ray beam relative to the patient's body part;

constructing a three-dimensional model of the patient's body part of interest, by utilizing the a priori information along with the X-ray absorptiometric data;

said constructing comprising using compurter equipment for carrying out the steps of:

(i) obtaining two-dimensional (2D) projection views of the 3D generic model that correspond in orientation to the 2D images of the patient's body part,

(ii) comparing each of the 2D projection views of the generic model with the corresponding 2D image of the patient's body part to calculate a cost function,

(iii) modifying 3D odd according to said cost function, and

(iv) repeating steps (i) through (in), each time using in step (i) the 3D model as modified in the previous iteration of step (iii), until a selected threshold has been reached; and

performing measurements of various geometric parameters on the three-dimensional model as modified through said constructing and determining at least one of geometric and structural properties of the patient's body part.