The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 20, 2001
Filed:
Mar. 02, 1999
Ben A. Arnold, Columbia, KY (US);
Image Analysis, Inc., Columbia, KY (US);
Abstract
The present invention relates to x-ray analysis apparatus for bone density measurements. Bone Densitometry is the preferred method of diagnosing low bone density such as osteoporosis. The invention is a low cost x-ray bone densitometer capable of measuring bone density in the human body. It is particularly designed to measure the extremities, phalanges, calcaneous or radius, but similar techniques and a modified device could measure in larger body parts. The device can also have application in small animals or animal parts. The use of photodiodes of larger size at fixed locations provides a mechanically positioned Region of Interest (ROI) which reduces software and hardware requirements. The low cost bone densitometer serves as a screening device in primary care physician's offices. The present invention provides a highly automated bone mineral density measurement achieved by simple positioning of the hand, and push button operation. The compact and low cost tabletop x-ray system is powered by line voltage or battery which exposes the body part and calibration phantom or phantoms simultaneously. The device provides exposures at multiple x-ray energies, here introduced as MEXA, (Multiple Energy X-ray Absorptiometry). The invention also utilizes an improved calibration method. This method uses calcium hydroxyapatite in a solid tissue equivalent matrix to form the reference calibration phantom, which is positioned adjacent to the fingers for simultaneous calibration on each exam.