Methods and devices for quantitative analysis of x-ray images
The present invention relates to network enabled analysis of x-ray images. Also described are devices comprising calibration phantoms; methods of using these devices; methods of formulating databases containing information regarding x-ray images; the databases themselves; and methods of manipulating the information and databases.
1. A method to derive quantitative information from an x-ray image in a network environment comprising:
providing a digitized x-ray image on a local computer, wherein the x-ray image includes an image of bone;
transmitting the x-ray image to a remote computer; and
analyzing the x-ray image at the remote computer, thereby deriving quantitative information on trabecular bone structure from the x-ray image, wherein said information is selected from the group consisting of trabecular thickness and two-dimensional or three-dimensional spaces between trabeculae.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the analysis of the x-ray image comprises using a computer program on the remote computer.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein said quantitative information includes densitometric information.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein said densitometric information is bone mineral density.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein said quantitative information includes information on the morphology of the bone.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein said information on the morphology of a structure is information on the two-dimensional arrangement of individual components forming said structure.
7. The method of claim 5 , wherein said information on the morphology of a structure is information on the three-dimensional arrangement of individual components forming said structure.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein said information includes two-dimensional or three-dimensional architecture of the trabecular network.
9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising transmitting x-ray acquisition parameters to the remote computer.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the x-ray acquisition parameters are transmitted prior to x-ray image.
11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the x-ray acquisition parameters are transmitted simultaneously with the x-ray image.
12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the x-ray acquisition parameters are transmitted after to the x-ray image.
13. The method of claim 9 , wherein the x-ray acquisition parameters are selected from the group consisting of x-ray tube voltage, x-ray energy, x-ray tube current, film-focus distance, object-film distance, x-ray collimation, focal spot size, spatial resolution of the x-ray system, filter technique, and film-focus distance.
14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the x-ray image further comprises one or more internal standards.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the internal standard is density of a tissue of a human or air surrounding a structure.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the internal standard is density of a tissue and the tissue is selected from the group consisting of subcutaneous fat, bone and muscle.
17. The method of claim 1 , wherein the information is encrypted prior to transmission.
18. The method of claim 1 , further comprising generating a diagnostic report based on the quantitative information.
19. The method of claim 18 , wherein said diagnostic report provides information on a patient's state of health.
20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the state of health is selected from the group consisting of bone mineral density status and fracture risk.
21. The method of claim 19 , further comprising generating a bill for the diagnostic report.
22. The method of claim 21 , wherein the bill is generated by a computer program on the remote computer.
23. The method of claim 1 , wherein the x-ray image is an x-ray film.
24. The method of claim 23 , wherein the x-ray film image is digitized.
25. The method of claim 24 , wherein the film is digitized using a scanning unit.
26. The method of claim 1 , wherein said x-ray image is acquired digitally.
27. The method of claim 26 , wherein the digital x-ray image is acquired using a selenium detector system or a silicon detector system.
28. A method of diagnosing osteoporosis comprising analyzing an x-ray obtained by the method of claim 1 .
29. A method of treating osteoporosis comprising diagnosing osteoporosis according to the method of claim 28 and administering a suitable treatment.
30. The method of claim 29 , wherein the treatment comprises administering an anti-resorptive agent or an anabolic agent.
31. The method of claim 1 , wherein the quantitative information is structural information.
32. The method of claim 31 , further comprising analyzing the x-ray image at the remote computer to derive densitometric information on bone from the x-ray image.
33. A method of diagnosing osteoporosis comprising analyzing an x-ray obtained by the method of claim 31 .
34. A method of treating osteoporosis comprising diagnosing osteoporosis according to the method of claim 33 and administering a suitable treatment.
35. The method of claim 34 , wherein the treatment comprises administering an anti-resorptive agent or an anabolic agent.