초록 ▼

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 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.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A computer program product for generating a density calibration curve from a digital x-ray image of an anatomic structure, the x-ray image including a wedge-shaped calibration phantom having length (L) and thickness (I) that varies non-linearly along the length, the computer

What is claimed is: 1. A computer program product for generating a density calibration curve from a digital x-ray image of an anatomic structure, the x-ray image including a wedge-shaped calibration phantom having length (L) and thickness (I) that varies non-linearly along the length, the computer program product comprising a computer usable medium having computer readable program code thereon, the computer readable program code comprising: (a) program code for measuring attenuation at a multitude of points in the x-ray image of the calibration phantom; (b) program code for measuring attenuation of at least one point of known density in the x-ray image of the anatomical structure; (c) program code for generating a calibration curve that describes the relationship between attenuation measured in (a) and (b) and material thickness; and (d) program code for translating the calibration curve describing thickness into a curve describing calcium concentration. 2. The computer program product according to claim 1, wherein each point in (c) is at a known distance from a selected part of the calibration phantom. 3. The computer program product according to claim 1, wherein the calibration phantom comprises aluminum and the calibration curve describes aluminum thickness. 4. The computer program product according to claim 1, wherein the x-ray image is a dental x-ray. 5. The computer program product according to claim 1, wherein the calibration curve is generated in a network environment. 6. The computer program product according to claim 1, wherein, in (d), the at least one point of known density in the anatomical structure is in muscle, fat, or air. 7. The computer program product according to claim 6, wherein the fat is subcutaneous fat. 8. The computer product according to claim 1, further comprising program code for diagnosing osteoporosis if bone mineral density is below a reference standard.