Methods and devices for evaluating and treating a bone condition on x-ray image analysis
View Patent ↗This disclosure relates to methods and devices for analyzing x-ray images. Futhermore, bone condition of a subject can be evaluated by analyzing x-ray images of the subject's bone and therapies can then be selected or devised for the subject.
1. A method of deriving quantitative information about a bone structure parameter in a subject comprising:
(a) analyzing, using a computer system, an image of a bone of the subject; and
(b) deriving quantitative information on one or more bone structure parameters from a sliding regions of interest (ROI) on the image.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the ROI is adapted to the image and derived from a model set of ROIs having similar anatomical landmarks.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the bone structure includes trabecular bone structure.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the quantitative information on bone structure includes one or more bone microarchitecture parameters.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the quantitative information on bone structure includes one or more bone macroanatomical parameters.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the quantitative information on bone structure includes a single index of combined bone structure parameters.
7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising comparing the quantitative information with information in a database of bone structure measurements obtained from selected subjects.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the determining comprises diagnosing bone disease.
9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
assessing one or more macro-anatomical parameters in said image,
assessing bone mineral density and bone structure parameters in said image, and
combining the assessments to diagnose the bone disease.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the determining comprises monitoring progression of bone disease.
11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising selecting a therapy based on the bone condition and administering said therapy to said subject.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the determining comprises monitoring progression of bone disease during or after administration of said selected therapy.
13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the ROI is moved on a pixel-by-pixel basis on the image.
14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the ROI is placed on the image using a regularized active shape algorithm.
15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the ROI is located automatically.