Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
115 words
A method for evaluating bone comprising the steps of: (a) determining a bone pattern (i) by measuring the photodensity of an X-ray photograph of the long shank bone of a limb or (ii) by photon absorption metory from the long shank bone of a limb; (b) smoothing and symmetrizing the bone pattern to modify the same; (c) determining at least one index selected from the group consisting of an index of the bone cortical width (MCI), a bone width (D), a maximum bone density (GSmax), a minimum bone density (GSmin), a bone mineral content (EGS), and an average bone density (EGS/D or EGS/D2); and (d) evaluating the bone based on at least one said index.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
115 words
A method for evaluating bone comprising the steps of: (a) determining a bone pattern (i) by measuring the photodensity of an X-ray photograph of the long shank bone of a limb or (ii) by photon absorption metory from the long shank bone of a limb; (b) smoothing and symmetrizing the bone pattern to modify the same; (c) determining at least one index selected from the group consisting of an index of the bone cortical width (MCI), a bone width (D), a maximum bone density (GSmax), a minimum bone density (GSmin), a bone mineral content (EGS), and an average bone density (EGS/D or EGS/D2); and (d) evaluating the bone based on at least one said index.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said long shank bone of a limb is the mid-shaft of a second metacarpal bone.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
107 words
A method for evaluating bone comprising the steps of: (a) determining a bone pattern (i) by measuring the photodensity of an X-ray photograph of the long shank bone of a limb or (ii) by photon absorption metory from the long shank bone of a limb; (b) smoothing and symmetrizing the bone pattern to modify the same; (c) determining a bone density distribution by setting a bone model having an elliptic bone cross-sectional external shape, a zonate bone cortex, and a bone density decreasing portion in the inside of the bone cortex from the modified bone pattern; and (d) evaluating the bone based on the bone density distribution.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
107 words
A method for evaluating bone comprising the steps of: (a) determining a bone pattern (i) by measuring the photodensity of an X-ray photograph of the long shank bone of a limb or (ii) by photon absorption metory from the long shank bone of a limb; (b) smoothing and symmetrizing the bone pattern to modify the same; (c) determining a bone density distribution by setting a bone model having an elliptic bone cross-sectional external shape, a zonate bone cortex, and a bone density decreasing portion in the inside of the bone cortex from the modified bone pattern; and (d) evaluating the bone based on the bone density distribution.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as claimed in claim 3, wherein said long shank bone of a limb is the mid-shaft of a second metacarpal bone.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the ratio of the major axis to the minor axis of the elliptic bone cross-sectional external shape is more than 1 but not more than 1.4.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
175 words
A method for evaluating bone comprising the steps of: (a) determining a bone pattern in each portion (i) by measuring the photodensity of an X-ray photograph, at a constant distance, of the long shank bone of a limb or (ii) by photon absorption metory from each portion of the long shank bone of a limb; (b) smoothing and symmetrizing the bone pattern of each portion to modify the same; (c) determining a bone density distribution in each portion by setting a bone model having an elliptic bone cross-sectional external shape, a zonate bone cortex, and a bone density decreasing portion.in the inside of the bone cortex from the modified bone pattern; (d) classifying, by color, the bone density distribution in each portion based on the density values in each bone density distribution; (e) converting the X-ray image of the shank bone of the limb, or the image obtained from the photon absorption metory, to the image of the bone density distribution; and (f) evaluating the bone based on the image of the bone density distribution.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
175 words
A method for evaluating bone comprising the steps of: (a) determining a bone pattern in each portion (i) by measuring the photodensity of an X-ray photograph, at a constant distance, of the long shank bone of a limb or (ii) by photon absorption metory from each portion of the long shank bone of a limb; (b) smoothing and symmetrizing the bone pattern of each portion to modify the same; (c) determining a bone density distribution in each portion by setting a bone model having an elliptic bone cross-sectional external shape, a zonate bone cortex, and a bone density decreasing portion.in the inside of the bone cortex from the modified bone pattern; (d) classifying, by color, the bone density distribution in each portion based on the density values in each bone density distribution; (e) converting the X-ray image of the shank bone of the limb, or the image obtained from the photon absorption metory, to the image of the bone density distribution; and (f) evaluating the bone based on the image of the bone density distribution.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as claimed in claim 6, wherein said long shank bone of a limb is the mid-shaft of a second metacarpal bone.