Method, code, and system for assaying joint deformity
US7280683B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 22, 2003 |
| Grant date | Oct 9, 2007 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 22, 2025 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06V2201/033
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A method, machine-readable storage medium embodying computer-readable code and automated system for assaying or monitoring the extent of joint or bone deformity reported by a summarized score that may include joint space narrowing, bone erosion and periarticular osteoporosis in a joint-degenerative or joint-damaging disease in a subject are disclosed. From a digitized image of one of the subject's straight bone terminated with a joint such as fingers, coordinates of right and left bone contours of a selected middle or proximal phalange are determined, and these coordinates are in turn used to determine the coordinates of a minimum width in the middle region of the phalange and one or more apices in a region adjacent at least one side of a joint of the selected phalange. These latter coordinates are used in selecting a reference joint contour representing normal-bone contour for that phalange, or the contour of the patient phalange from an earlier x-ray image. Guided by the reference joint contour, a region of the selected joint of the patient is analyzed to assay or monitor the extent of joint or bone deformity in the subject.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.