Systems and methods for approximating bone mineral density and fracture risk using single energy x-rays

• Main Authors: Cicero, Mark, Eftekhari, Daniel, Bilbily, Alexander
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 29.08.2023
• Subjects: CALCULATING; COMPUTER SYSTEMS BASED ON SPECIFIC COMPUTATIONAL MODELS; COMPUTING; COUNTING; DIAGNOSIS; HEALTHCARE INFORMATICS, i.e. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONTECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR THE HANDLING ORPROCESSING OF MEDICAL OR HEALTHCARE DATA; HUMAN NECESSITIES; HYGIENE; IDENTIFICATION; INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTEDFOR SPECIFIC APPLICATION FIELDS; MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; PHYSICS; SURGERY

A computerized method for estimating bone mineral density, z and t-scores and/or fracture risk by receiving single-energy x-rays of the thoracic spine, chest x-ray, lumbar spine, whole body x-ray, hip, arm, leg, hand or foot in addition to imaging technical parameters and clinical parameters such as patient demographics, medical history, and other risk factors. The results are presented to a user for the diagnosis or screening of osteoporosis and/or risk stratification of osteoporotic fractures. A classifier may be trained using a dataset of single energy x-rays correlated to results from dual energy x-ray readings performed in the same patient and of the same body part, along with fracture incidence, to correlate the inputs provided to the desired output. A classifier may also be trained to predict fracture risk directly from x-ray image data and optionally additional patient characteristics.