Metallic bone measurement system and method
The bone measurement system is configured to detect a density of a metallic source within a bone. The bone measurement system includes an x-ray fluorescence (XRF) device, a filter, a radiation detector, a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing processor-executable instructions, and a processor. The XRF device may have an x-ray tube including an x-ray source and an anode. The x-ray source may be configured to produce an x-ray beam. The x-ray tube may include a backscatter geometry of around less than one-hundred and eighty degrees to more than ninety degrees. The filter may be disposed along a path of the x-ray beam. The radiation detector may be coupled to the XRF device.
1 . A bone measurement system configured to detect a density of a metallic source within a bone, the system comprising:
an x-ray fluorescence (XRF) device having an x-ray tube including an x-ray source and an anode, the x-ray source configured to produce an x-ray beam;
a filter disposed along a path of the x-ray beam;
a radiation detector coupled to the XRF device;
a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing processor-executable instructions, the storage medium communicatively coupled to the XRF device; and
a processor electrically coupled to the storage medium;
wherein the processor-executable instructions are executed to:
calibrate the XRF device;
determine a spectral peak of the metallic source utilizing spectral analysis;
quantify a density of the metallic source, based on the determined spectral peak;
normalize for a soft tissue thickness utilizing an error propagation equation; and
output a density of the metallic source within the bone.
2 . The bone measurement system of claim 1 , wherein the quantified density of the metallic source is obtained using a gaussian fit equation.
3 . The bone measurement system of claim 2 , wherein the gaussian fit equation includes:
a
*
e
-
0.5
(
x
-
b
c
)
2
+
d
*
e
x
*
f
.
4 . The bone measurement system of claim 1 , wherein the normalized density of the metallic source is derived from an error propagation equation.
5 . The bone measurement system of claim 4 , wherein the error propagation equation includes:
σ
=
C
*
BKG
Net
.
6 . The bone measurement system of claim 5 , wherein normalized density of the metallic source is further derived from an inverse squared weight equation of:
Weight
=
1
U
2
.
7 . The bone measurement system of claim 1 , wherein the metallic source is one of lead, iron, nickel, and zinc.
8 . The bone measurement system of claim 1 , wherein the filter and the anode are constructed from the same material.
9 . The bone measurement system of claim 1 , wherein the anode is a silver anode.
10 . The bone measurement system of claim 1 , wherein the anode is a molybdenum anode.
11 . The bone measurement system of claim 1 , wherein the filter is a silver filter.
12 . The bone measurement system of claim 1 , wherein the radiation detector is a silicon drift detector.
13 . The bone measurement system of claim 1 , wherein the x-ray tube includes a backscatter geometry less than around one-hundred and eighty degrees to more than ninety degrees.
14 . The bone measurement system of claim 13 , wherein the backscatter geometry is around one-hundred and sixty degrees.
15 . The bone measurement system of claim 1 , wherein the XRF device is calibrated using a Compton scattering normalization method.
16 . The bone measurement system of claim 1 , wherein the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium and the processor are electrically coupled to the XRF device, thus providing the bone measurement system as a single device.
17 . The bone measurement system of claim 1 , wherein the XRF device is a mono-capillary optic along the path of the x-ray beam.
18 . A method of using a bone measurement system configured to detect a density of a metallic source within a bone, the method comprising the steps of:
providing an x-ray fluorescence (XRF) device, a filter, a radiation detector, a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing processor-executable instructions, and a processor, the XRF device having an x-ray tube including an x-ray source and an anode, the x-ray source configured to produce an x-ray beam, the filter disposed along a path of the x-ray beam, the radiation detector coupled to the XRF device, the storage medium communicatively coupled to the XRF device, and the processor electrically coupled to the storage medium;
calibrating the XRF device, using a Compton scattering normalization method;
determining a spectral peak of the metallic source utilizing spectral analysis;
quantifying a density of the metallic source, based on the determined spectral peak;
normalizing for a soft tissue thickness utilizing an error propagation equation; and
outputting the density of the metallic source within the bone.
19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the steps of calibrating the XRF device, determining a spectral peak of the metallic source, quantifying a density of the metallic source, normalizing for a soft tissue thickness, and outputting the density of the metallic source collectively occur in less than about five minutes.
20 . The method of claim 18 , further including a step of focusing the x-ray beam through collimation.