US5270651A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and apparatus for diagnosing osteoporosis
Assignee: University of Pennsylvania
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Filing: 1991-05-21
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Granted: 1993-12-14
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Expires: 2011-05-21
Abstract
Abstract A method for noninvasively detecting osteoporosis in human subjects by means of NMR imaging is described. In the preferred embodiment, a series of images are acquired whereby the echo time TE is incremented until a predefined number of images, each differing in echo time, has been acquired. The images are then displayed, a region of interest (ROI) is selected and mean signal amplitudes are computed (block 46). The mean signal amplitude values are then used as inputs for the curve fitting procedure that computes T2* (block 48). The final step of the process compares the computed value of T2* with a normal baseline (block 50), which permits the subject to be classified as either normal or osteoporotic (block 52).
Inventors
- 👤 Felix W. Wehrli
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 01:05
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01R; G01R33/00; G01R33/20; G01R33/44; G01R33/48; G01R33/50; G01R33/483
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
88 words
A nuclear magnetic resonance method for detecting a condition of a mass of bone in a subject, comprising the steps of: (a) subjecting the mass of bone to electromagnetic energy so as to cause a time-varying response indicative of the geometry of trabeculae in the mass of bone; (b) detecting an effective transverse relaxation time T2* associated with said response; (c) comparing said T2* with T2* data corresponding to a second mass of bone having a known condition, whereby the condition of the mass of bone is determined.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
88 words
A nuclear magnetic resonance method for detecting a condition of a mass of bone in a subject, comprising the steps of: (a) subjecting the mass of bone to electromagnetic energy so as to cause a time-varying response indicative of the geometry of trabeculae in the mass of bone; (b) detecting an effective transverse relaxation time T2* associated with said response; (c) comparing said T2* with T2* data corresponding to a second mass of bone having a known condition, whereby the condition of the mass of bone is determined.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method recited in claim 1, wherein step (a) comprises subjecting the bone to an electromagnetic pulse.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method recited in claim 2, wherein step (c) comprises comparing the detected T2* with T2* data for a mass of bone that has a known trabecular structure.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method recited in claim 3, further comprising the step of determining on the basis of the comparison whether the subject is osteoporotic or normal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method recited in claim 4, wherein step (b) comprises measuring a plurality of data points and fitting a single-exponential curve to said plurality of data points.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method recited in claim 4, wherein step (b) comprises measuring a plurality of data points corresponding to a plurality of spectral components and determining respective rates of decay of said spectral components.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method recited in claim 4, wherein step (b) comprises performing localized spectroscopy on the mass of bone.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method recited in claim 4, further comprising the step of suppressing a spectral component.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
61 words
A nuclear magnetic resonance method for detecting osteoporosis, comprising the steps of: (a) subjecting a subject to a pulse of electromagnetic energy so as to cause a time-varying response; (b) detecting the effective relaxation time T2* of the response: (c) comparing the detected T2* with a reference; and (d) determining on the basis of the comparison whether the subject is osteoporotic.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
61 words
A nuclear magnetic resonance method for detecting osteoporosis, comprising the steps of: (a) subjecting a subject to a pulse of electromagnetic energy so as to cause a time-varying response; (b) detecting the effective relaxation time T2* of the response: (c) comparing the detected T2* with a reference; and (d) determining on the basis of the comparison whether the subject is osteoporotic.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method recited in claim 9, further comprising measuring a plurality of data points and fitting a single-exponential curve to said plurality of data points.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method recited in claim 9, further comprising measuring a plurality of data points corresponding to a plurality of spectral components and determining respective rates of decay of said spectral components.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method recited in claim 9, further comprising performing localized spectroscopy on the subject.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
83 words
An apparatus for detecting a condition of a patient, comprising: (a) means for subjecting the mass of bone to electromagnetic energy so as to cause a time-varying response indicative of the geometry of trabeculae in the mass of bone; (b) detecting means for detecting an effective transverse relaxation time T2* associated with said response; (c) processing means, coupled to said detecting means, for comparing said T2* with a reference and providing an indication of whether or not said mass of bone is osteoporotic.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
83 words
An apparatus for detecting a condition of a patient, comprising: (a) means for subjecting the mass of bone to electromagnetic energy so as to cause a time-varying response indicative of the geometry of trabeculae in the mass of bone; (b) detecting means for detecting an effective transverse relaxation time T2* associated with said response; (c) processing means, coupled to said detecting means, for comparing said T2* with a reference and providing an indication of whether or not said mass of bone is osteoporotic.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus recited in claim 13, wherein element (a) comprises means for subjecting the mass of bone to an electromagnetic pulse.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus recited in claim 14, wherein said processing means comprises means for comparing the detected T2* with T2* data for a mass of bone that has a known trabecular structure.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus recited in claim 15, wherein said detecting means comprises means for measuring a plurality of data points and fitting a single-exponential curve to said plurality of data points.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
20 words
The apparatus recited in 15, wherein said detecting means comprises means for performing localized spectroscopy on the mass of bone.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
20 words
The apparatus recited in 15, wherein said detecting means comprises means for performing localized spectroscopy on the mass of bone.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus recited in claim 15, further comprising means for suppressing a spectral component.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1996-12-13 | 1997-06-14 | 1997-12-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-12-13 | 2001-06-14 | 2001-12-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-12-13 | 2005-06-14 | 2005-12-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |