Bone Texture Analysis via Variogram for Fracture Risk
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for assessing osteoporosis, such as Dual X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA), have limitations in differentiating bone fracture risk and considering bone micro-architecture, leading to significant overlap in fracture risk assessment between individuals with and without increased risk, and are influenced by physiological and technical factors.
Innovation Solution
A process and device that analyze the texture of human or animal tissues from digitized images using an experimental variogram to calculate a texture score, which takes into account patient and technical factors, improving fracture risk prediction and correlation with bone micro-architecture without relying solely on Bone Mineral Density (BMD).
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If Dual X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA) is used to assess bone mineral density, then bone quantity can be measured, but the ability to differentiate fracture risk and assess bone micro-architecture is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The invention transitions from assessing only bone quantity (BMD) to incorporating bone texture analysis as an additional dimension. By applying variogram analysis to DXA images, the system extracts texture parameters that reflect bone micro-architecture, thereby differentiating fracture risk beyond what BMD alone can provide.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces texture analysis as an intermediary between BMD measurement and fracture risk assessment. The variogram-based texture parameters serve as a mediator that captures micro-architectural information from standard DXA images, enabling more precise fracture risk differentiation without requiring additional imaging hardware.
2Measurement precision
If standard texture analysis methods are applied to bone images, then some texture information can be obtained, but measurement reproducibility is poor due to physiological and technical factors
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the parameters used for texture analysis by employing variogram analysis with specific lag distances and directional orientations. This parameter transformation makes the texture measurements more robust to physiological variations (such as bone density differences) and technical factors (such as imaging resolution), thereby improving reproducibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention applies preliminary normalization and preprocessing steps to the DXA images before texture analysis. By standardizing the input data and pre-calculating reference variograms from control populations, the system compensates for physiological and technical variations, enabling more reproducible texture measurements across different patients and imaging conditions.
3Reliability
If Bone Mineral Density (BMD) alone is used for osteoporosis assessment, then the assessment is simple, but it cannot adequately predict fracture risk or reflect bone quality
Solution Approach 1:
The invention makes the DXA system multi-functional by enabling both BMD measurement and texture analysis from the same image data. The variogram analysis algorithm can be applied to standard DXA images without requiring additional hardware, allowing the system to simultaneously assess bone quantity (BMD) and bone quality (texture), thereby improving fracture risk prediction reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a composite assessment approach by combining BMD values with texture parameters derived from variogram analysis. This composite methodology integrates quantitative density information with qualitative structural information, providing a more comprehensive and reliable fracture risk prediction than BMD alone.
Data Source
AI summary
A process for analyzing a texture of a human or animal tissue from a digitized image, obtained by X-Ray based imaging system. The process includes a step of calculating at least one texture score B for the image by applying an experimental variogram to the tissue texture. Also, a device for analyzing the texture of a human or animal tissue from the digitized image.