Method and apparatus for measuring long bone density of small-animals
US7706501B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 4, 2008 |
| Grant date | Apr 27, 2010 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 4, 2028 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01N2223/6123
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A method and apparatus are disclosed for measuring long bone density of small animals. A phosphor screen or plate is provided of a type that transduces incident ionizing radiation to emitted light. A small animal is positioned before the phosphor screen or plate and exposed to soft X-radiation having an energy level in the range of 11 to 16 Kev. Light emitted by the phosphor screen or plate is captured using a digital camera and a digital X-ray image is prepared of a long bone of the animal. The X-ray image is transformed into an X-ray density image and a region of interest is defined on the long bone in the X-ray density image. At least one row of pixels is scanned within the region of interest of the X-ray density image. A nonlinear least squares analysis of data obtained from the scanning step is conducted using a cylindrical model for the long bone within the region of interest.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.