Digital radiograph analyzer and methods

• US 7,113,162 B1
• Filed: 05/12/2000
• Issued: 09/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bradley D. Beasley
• Original Assignee: Bradley D. Beasley
• Inventors: Beasley, Bradley D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hjerpe, Richard
• Assistant Examiner(s): ABDULSELAM, ABBAS I
• Application Number:
  US09/569,410
• Time in Patent Office: 2,328 Days
• Field of Search: 345/157, 345/164, 345/160, 345/166, 345/179, 345/173, 345/472.3, 345/102, 345/162, 345/569, 382/132, 382/154, 382/140, 378/162, 378/163, 378/164, 378/165, 378/166, 378/146, 378/4, 378/21, 378/98, 600/410, 600/411, 361/686, 361/683, 178/681, 178/19.01, 178/18.08, 178/18.03, 178/18.01, 178/18.02, 352/26, 348/362, 348/363, 348/364, 362/26
• US Class Current: 345/102
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/505 for diagnosis of bone

Abstract

A digital system for evaluating foot and ankle radiographs having the advantage of providing accurate measurement information based on selected landmarks on the radiograph. The system includes a computing device, a coordinate generating digitizing device operatively connected to the computing device for generating coordinate data for the selected landmarks on the radiograph, and software for converting the coordinate data into descriptive measurement information. The present invention also includes a new method of analyzing foot and ankle radiographs that includes selecting a medical condition for evaluation, selecting a radiograph of the patient for the medical condition, determining landmarks to be located on the radiograph for evaluation of the medical condition, digitizing points in the landmark as coordinate data, and converting coordinate data into clinical measurement information. Another aspect of the invention includes the steps of defining and identifying a plurality of landmarks for a particular medical condition or evaluation.

Claims

1. A first ever digital system for evaluating foot and ankle radiographs having the advantage of providing accurate measurement information based upon selected landmarks on the radiograph, the system comprising:

a computing device including a digital storage medium and a central processing unit;

a coordinate generating backlighted digitizing device operatively connected to the computing device for generating coordinate data for the selected landmarks on the radiograph; and

software in the digital storage medium executable by the computing device for converting the coordinate data into clinically descriptive measurement information.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising a a database connected to the computing device that includes patient data related to one or more patients.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the patient data includes information quantifying osseous relationships on the radiographs.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the digitizing device includes a cursor for selecting the landmark to digitize.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the clinically descriptive measurement information includes angles quantifying osseous relationships.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the software provides normal values for comparison with the clinically descriptive measurement information.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the clinically descriptive measurement information includes distances quantifying osseous relationships.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the software provides normal values for comparison with the clinically descriptive measurement information.

9. A software article for use in evaluating foot and ankle radiographs that provides accurate measurement information based upon selected landmarks on the radiograph, the article comprising:

a computer-readable signal-bearing medium;

means in the medium for determining landmarks on the radiograph to be located;

means in the medium for reading coordinate data for the landmarks; and

means in the medium for converting the coordinate data into clinically descriptive measurement information.

10. The article of claim 9 further comprising a means in the medium for returning the clinically descriptive measurement information in a table format with normal values for comparison.

11. The article of claim 9 further comprising a means in the medium for returning the clinically descriptive information as a graphical illustration of the landmarks with lines drawn identifying angular osseous relationships.

12. The article of claim 9 wherein the medium is a recordable data storage medium.

13. The article of claim 9 wherein the medium is a modulated carrier signal.

14. The article of claim 13 wherein the signal is a transmission over a global computer network.

15. The article of claim 13 wherein the signal is a transmission over a wireless network.

16. A method of analyzing foot and ankle radiographs that minimizes the time required to perform the analysis and provides accurate measurement information, the method comprising:

providing a computing device including a digital storage medium and a central processing unit, a coordinate generating backlighted digitizing device operatively connected to the computing device for generating coordinate data from the radiograph, and software in the digital storage medium executable by the computing device for converting the coordinate data into clinically descriptive measurement information;

selecting landmarks on the radiograph for evaluating a medical condition;

digitizing points on the radiograph corresponding to the landmarks through use of the digitizing device; and

reviewing the clinically descriptive measurement information determined by the software.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising the step of comparing the clinically descriptive measurement information with corresponding normal values.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein the medical condition is HAV.

19. The method of claim 16 wherein the medical condition is Tailor'"'"'s bunion condition.

20. The method of claim 16 wherein the medical condition is Haglund'"'"'s condition.

21. The method of claim 16 wherein the medical condition is a biomechanical deformity.

22. The method of claim 16 wherein the medical condition is a calcaneus traumatic injury.

23. The method of claim 16 wherein the medical condition is a pediatric foot deformity.

24. The method of claim 16 wherein the medical condition is an ankle traumatic injury.

25. A method of analyzing foot and ankle radiographs for a patient that minimizes the time required to perform the analysis and provides accurate measurement information, the method comprising:

selecting a medical condition for evaluation;

selecting a radiograph of the patient corresponding to the medical condition;

determining landmarks to be located on the radiograph for evaluation of the medical condition;

digitizing points for the landmarks as coordinate data on a backlighted digitizer;

converting the coordinate data into clinical measurement information; and

displaying the clinical measurement information.

26. The method of claim 25 further comprising the step of displaying normal values corresponding to the clinical measurement information for comparison.

27. The method of claim 25 further comprising the step of storing the clinical measurement information for the patient in a database.

28. A method of analyzing foot and ankle radiographs for a patient that minimizes the time required to perform the analysis and provides accurate measurement information, the method comprising:

selecting a medical condition for evaluation;

defining a plurality of landmarks for use with the medical condition;

selecting a radiograph of the patient corresponding to the plurality of landmarks;

identifying the plurality of landmarks on the radiograph;

digitizing the identified landmarks as coordinate data on a backlighted digitizer;

converting the coordinate data into clinical measurement information; and

displaying the clinical measurement information.

29. The method of claim 28 wherein the medical condition is HAV.

30. The method of claim 28 wherein the medical condition is Tailor'"'"'s bunion condition.

31. The method of claim 28 wherein the medical condition is Haglund'"'"'s condition.

32. The method of claim 28 wherein the medical condition is a biomechanical deformity.

33. The method of claim 28 wherein the medical condition is a calcaneus traumatic injury.

34. The method of claim 28 wherein the medical condition is an ankle traumatic injury.

35. The method of claim 28 wherein the medical condition is a pediatric foot deformity.