Surgery – Diagnostic testing – Detecting nuclear – electromagnetic – or ultrasonic radiation
Reexamination Certificate
1995-05-31
2001-05-08
Smith, Ruth S. (Department: 3737)
Surgery
Diagnostic testing
Detecting nuclear, electromagnetic, or ultrasonic radiation
C378S055000, C378S197000, C600S425000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06230036
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to radiologic measuring devices, and more particularly, to the use of radiation in measuring bone structure.
The diagnostic use of radiation in evaluating bone structure has recently been applied in assessing bone demineralization that occurs with advancing age. Bone mineral is lost from all parts of the skeleton, and at a linear rate from the lumbar spine, starting at about 35 years of age. The resultant demineralization results in a high risk of fractures with an increased associated mortality and morbidity. In evaluation of the spine, there is a very good correlation between dual photon densitometry measurements of bone density and fracture resistance in excised vertebrae subjected to compression testing. It is also important to evaluate mineral loss in the hip, as appendicular losses often match or exceed spine loss in patients over 70.
Dual photon absorptiometry enables non-invasive quantitative analysis of bone mineral in regions of the body that were previously inaccessible using single photon absorptiometry.,The use of two photon energies minimizes errors that result from irregular body contour and soft tissue inhomogeneities. Essentially, two photon energies are necessary to allow discrimination of two substances of a given system. In this case between bone mineral and soft tissue. The most commonly used photon energies in dual photon scanning are 44 and 100 KeV. The measurements of the attenuation of this radiation as it passes through the body yields the bone mineral density.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention involves the multidirectional measurement of human bone densities for diagnostic purposes. A radiation source, and a detector used for measuring the radiation transmitted through the object being measured, are rigidly aligned by a bracket or arm. This detector is mounted in a telescoping mechanism to permit control over the source/detector distance. The arm and the attached source and detector, are mounted on an “x-y” table that permits scanning of objects over a predetermined planar area. This apparatus is mounted so that the source, detector, and scanning mechanism can be rotated to view a stationary object from different angles.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the pivot axis about which the arm rotates is displaceable so that the source will clear the table upon rotation. The rotating apparatus may be mounted in a drawer with guides or rails that telescope out to support the system during rotation. The rotating elements are weighted so that very little pressure is necessary to rotate the system. The weight is distributed so that if the mechanism is stopped at any point during rotation, it will at most slowly accelerate under its own weight. If the center of gravity of the rotating mechanism is approximately along the pivot axis, this condition will be met. One weight is placed in the detector to vertically adjust the center of gravity. A second weight is placed adjacent the scanning assembly to horizontally adjust the center of gravity.
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O'Neill William
Warne James R.
Hamilton Brook Smith & Reynolds P.C.
Hologic Inc.
Smith Ruth S.
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