Virtual bone biopsy (VBB) system

• US 7,643,664 B2
• Filed: 01/12/2009
• Issued: 01/05/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Trustees Of The University Of Pennsylvania (University of Pennsylvania)
• Original Assignee: Trustees Of The University Of Pennsylvania (University of Pennsylvania)
• Inventors: Gomberg, Bryon R, Wehrli, Felix W.
• Primary Examiner(s): AZARIAN, SEYED H
• Application Number:
  US12/352,138
• Publication Number:
  US 20090154786A1
• Time in Patent Office: 358 Days
• Field of Search: 382/100, 382/128, 382/129, 382/130, 382/131, 382/132, 382/133, 382/134, 382/168, 382/172, 382/181, 382/193, 382/203, 382/209, 382/219, 382/224, 382/232, 382/255, 382/260, 382/274, 382/275, 382/276, 382/305, 382/318, 382/320, 600/407, 600/410, 324/309, 378/4, 378/21, 378/24
• US Class Current: 382/131
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 24/08 by using nuclear magnetic resonance G01N24/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/48 NMR imaging systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/56509 due to motion, displacement or flow, e.g. gradient moment nulling G01R33/567 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/5659 caused by a distortion of the RF magnetic field, e.g. spatial inhomogeneities of the RF magnetic field G01R33/56509, G01R33/56518, G01R33/56536 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/10088 Magnetic resonance imaging [MRI]
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30008 Bone
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/0012 Biomedical image inspection

Abstract

The present invention comprises a system and method for analyzing trabecular bone structure. A means for scanning the trabecular bone using a magnetic resonance image (MRI) scanner generates bone image data, which is then processed including correcting, deshading and reducing noise in the image data.

Claims

1. A computerized system for analyzing trabecular bone structure of a selected anatomical region, the system comprising:

magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) coil for scanning or rescanning the trabecular bone in the immobilized selected region to generate MR bone image data, wherein image data comprises data acquired by signals emitted from bone marrow regions of the scanned trabecular bone;

computer processor(s) operably linked to the scanner, to produce processed or unprocessed image data or for creating derived quantitative parameters, or combinations thereof,

permitting visualization or mapping of the derived parameters;

operating computer readable medium comprising the data and parameters, and

encoded with one of the following;

computer program software;

computer executable instructions or instructions executed by the computer processor;

computer code for processing the image data or for creating derived quantitative parameters, or combinations thereof, the code causing operations comprising, individually or in combination, a function for correcting the image data to compensate for movement of a selected region relative to the coil during the scanning;

a function for deshading the image data to minimize the effects of radio frequency inhomogeneity; and

a function for reducing noise in the image data, a function for determining trabecular thickness;

a function for providing structural anisotropy;

a function for providing topological analysis; and

a function for calculating network strength;

and reporting component for outputting the processed image data or derived quantitative parameters, or for visualizing same, or combinations thereof.

2. The system of claim 1, comprising a mathematical function to calculate network strength of the scanned bone as a derived quantitative parameter.

3. The system of claim 1, comprising a function to provide topological analysis of the scanned bone as a derived quantitative parameter.

4. The system of claim 1, comprising a function to provide structural anisotropy of the scanned bone as a derived quantitative parameter.

5. The system of claim 1, comprising a function to determine trabecular thickness of the scanned bone as a derived quantitative parameter.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the selected anatomical region comprises an artifact free portion of the scanned trabecular bone.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising a process for determining the risk of bone fracture from output of the processed image data or derived quantitative parameters, or combinations thereof.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the selected anatomical region comprising the scanned trabecular bone is in a patient.

9. An improved, scanned and processed image of trabecular bone structure produced by the system of claim 1.

10. A computerized system for analyzing trabecular bone structure of a selected anatomical region in a patient, the system comprising:

magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) coil for scanning or rescanning the trabecular bone in the immobilized selected region to generate MR bone image data, wherein image data comprises data acquired by signals emitted from bone marrow regions of the scanned trabecular bone;

computer processor(s) operably linked to the scanner, to produce processed or unprocessed image data or for creating derived quantitative parameters, or combinations thereof,

permitting visualization or mapping of the derived parameters;

operating computer readable medium comprising the data and parameters, and

encoded with one of the following;

computer program software;

computer executable instructions or instructions executed by the computer processor;

computer code for processing the image data or for creating derived quantitative parameters, or combinations thereof, the code causing operations comprising, individually or in combination, a function for correcting the image data to compensate for movement of the patient relative to the coil during the scanning;

a function for deshading the image data to minimize the effects of radio frequency inhomogeneity; and

a function for reducing noise in the image data;

a function for determining trabecular thickness, a function for providing structural anisotropy;

a function for providing topological analysis; and

a function for calculating network strength;

and reporting component for outputting the processed image data or derived quantitative parameters, or for visualizing same, or combinations thereof.

11. The system of claim 10, comprising a mathematical function to calculate network strength of the scanned bone of the patient as a derived quantitative parameter.

12. The system of claim 10, comprising a function to provide topological analysis of the scanned bone of the patient as a derived quantitative parameter.

13. The system of claim 10, comprising a function to provide structural anisotropy of the scanned bone of the patient as a derived quantitative parameter.

14. The system of claim 10, comprising a function to determine trabecular thickness of the scanned bone of the patient as a derived quantitative parameter.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the selected anatomical region comprises an artifact free portion of the scanned trabecular bone of the patient.

16. The system of claim 10, further comprising a process for determining the patient'"'"'s risk of bone fracture from output of the processed image data or derived quantitative parameters, or combinations thereof.

17. An improved, scanned and processed image of trabecular bone structure of a patient produced by the system of claim 10.