Bone Mineral Content Estimation from Radiographic Images
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for acquiring bone mineral information, such as Dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), require dedicated apparatus and struggle to evaluate bone mineral information for each part of the bone due to the influence of scattered rays and the need for specialized facilities.
Innovation Solution
A bone mineral information acquisition apparatus that estimates body thickness and acquires pixel values for bone regions from radiographic images, using tomosynthesis imaging and correction coefficients to reconstruct tomographic images and calculate bone mineral content without the need for dedicated equipment, allowing for evaluation of each bone part.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If DXA method is used to acquire bone mineral information, then bone mineral content can be calculated, but dedicated apparatus is required and existing facilities cannot be used
Solution Approach 1:
The invention enables existing radiography apparatus to perform bone mineral information acquisition in addition to their primary radiography function. By processing ordinary radiographic images with scattered ray components through image processing techniques, the system achieves DXA-level bone mineral measurement capability without requiring dedicated DXA equipment, thus making the existing facilities multi-functional.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a virtual DXA measurement system by processing ordinary radiographic images. Instead of requiring physical DXA apparatus, the system copies the bone mineral measurement function through computational methods applied to standard radiography images, extracting bone mineral information that would normally require specialized equipment to obtain.
2Measurement precision
If DXA method is used to calculate bone mineral content, then quantitative bone mineral information can be obtained, but evaluation for each part of the bone is difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the bone region into multiple areas of interest (AOIs) including cortical bone and trabecular bone regions. By dividing the bone structure into distinct segments and calculating bone mineral information for each segment separately, the system enables localized evaluation of bone mineral content in specific bone parts while maintaining overall quantitative accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention applies different analysis methods and parameters to different bone regions. By recognizing the heterogeneity of bone structure and applying location-specific processing, the system provides tailored bone mineral evaluation for cortical versus trabecular regions, preserving spatial distribution information that would be lost in uniform analysis.
3Ease of operation
If scattered rays are present in radiographic images, then imaging can be performed with existing facilities, but bone mineral information accuracy is degraded
Solution Approach 1:
The invention converts the harmful scattered ray components in ordinary radiographic images into useful information through specialized image processing. By developing algorithms that can extract bone mineral information despite the presence of scattered rays, the system transforms images that would normally be unsuitable for quantitative analysis into valid measurement data, eliminating the need for scattered ray suppression hardware.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces image processing algorithms as an intermediary between the scattered ray-containing radiographic image and the bone mineral information extraction. This computational mediator separates the desired bone mineral signal from the scattered ray noise, enabling accurate measurement from ordinary radiography images without requiring physical scattered ray removal devices.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables the acquisition of bone mineral information for each pixel of the bone region, facilitating detailed evaluation of bone health without the requirement for specialized facilities, and provides related information for display, including bone strength and fracture risk assessment.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of radiographic images each of which is acquired by radiations transmitted through the subject and includes a primary ray component and a scattered ray component
Implementation Method 2
radiation which is incident on the human body and is transmitted through the human body is attenuated by a mass attenuation coefficient μ (cm2/g) depending on a substance (for example, bone) forming the human body, the density ρ (g/cm3) of the substance, and the thickness t (cm) of the substance
Implementation Method 3
in a case in which radiographic images are acquired, scattered rays are generated due to the scattering of radiation in the subject
Data Source
AI summary
A body thickness estimation unit estimates a body thickness of a subject for each pixel of at least one radiographic image among a plurality of radiographic images each of which includes a primary ray component and a scattered ray component, on the basis of the at least one radiographic image. A bone part pixel value acquisition unit acquires a bone part pixel value which is a pixel value of a bone region of the subject, on the basis of the at least one radiographic image. An information acquisition unit acquires bone mineral information indicating a bone mineral content of the bone region for each pixel of the bone region on the basis of imaging conditions in a case in which the at least one radiographic image has been acquired, the body thickness for each pixel, and the bone part pixel value.