Fracture Risk Evaluation Using Pixel-Level Bone and Muscle Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current fracture risk evaluation methods primarily focus on bone mineral density and neglect the significant impact of soft tissue factors, such as muscle mass, and do not accurately calculate fracture risk using pixel-level bone density analysis.
Innovation Solution
A device and method that acquire radiographic images to specify bone and soft tissue regions, calculate bone mineral density and muscle mass for each pixel, and compute a fracture risk evaluation value based on statistical values derived from these measurements, incorporating factors like body thickness distribution and imaging conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If fracture risk evaluation is performed using only bone mineral density, then the evaluation process is simple, but the accuracy of fracture risk assessment is insufficient because soft tissue factors are neglected
Solution Approach 1:
The evaluation process is segmented into distinct functional modules: bone region specification unit, soft part region specification unit, bone mineral density calculation unit, muscle mass calculation unit, and fracture risk evaluation unit. This segmentation allows comprehensive assessment including both bone and soft tissue factors while maintaining systematic organization and manageable complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The radiographic image processing system performs multiple functions simultaneously: it specifies both bone and soft tissue regions, calculates bone mineral density, calculates muscle mass, and evaluates fracture risk using integrated information from all these measurements, creating a universal evaluation platform
2Measurement precision
If bone mineral density is calculated using osteon-level data, then the calculation is simplified, but the precision of bone density measurement decreases compared to pixel-level analysis
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from traditional osteon-level bone density measurement to pixel-level analysis across the entire radiographic image. By operating in the pixel dimension rather than the osteon dimension, the system achieves more precise and comprehensive bone mineral density measurement while maintaining computational feasibility through automated processing
3Loss of information
If only bone region information is used for fracture risk evaluation, then the data processing is simpler, but the comprehensiveness of the assessment is reduced by excluding soft tissue information
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges bone region information and soft part region information into a unified fracture risk evaluation framework. Both bone mineral density and muscle mass data are combined and processed together to produce a comprehensive fracture risk assessment, ensuring no critical information is lost
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments the radiographic image into distinct bone and soft tissue regions, then processes each region's information separately through dedicated calculation units before integrating the results. This segmentation approach maintains information completeness while organizing processing complexity into manageable separate functions
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 accurate fracture risk evaluation by considering the entire subject, including both bone and soft tissue regions, providing a more comprehensive assessment and issuing warnings when risk thresholds are exceeded.
Implementation Method 1
acquires a radiographic image obtained by capturing an image of a subject
Implementation Method 2
calculates a bone mineral density in a bone region and a muscle mass in a soft region for each pixel on the basis of the radiographic image
Data Source
AI summary
A subject information acquisition unit calculates a bone mineral density in the bone region and a muscle mass in the soft region for each pixel on the basis of a radiographic image. A statistical value calculation unit calculates a statistical value related to the subject on the basis of the bone mineral density and the muscle mass. An evaluation value calculation unit calculates the fracture risk evaluation value for evaluating the fracture risk of the subject on the basis of the statistical value.