Method of radiologically scanning the spine for measuring bone density

Abstract

An apparatus employing radiation for measuring bone density in which the bone can be scanned from different angles. The multidirectional scanning is accomplished by rotating the radiation source and detector about the stationary object being irradiated.

We claim: 
     
       1. A method of measuring bone density in the spine comprising: scanning a region of a spinal column at a first angle with a scanning assembly having a dual energy radiation source and a detector, the detector being aligned along an alignment axis with the source to receive radiation transmitted through the region from the source during scanning of the source and detector along an axis of the spinal column;   rotating the radiation source and detector, which are mounted on a .[.rotable.]. .Iadd.rotatable .Iaddend.platform, about a horizontal axis to a second angle such that the source and detector alignment axis extends laterally through the spinal region at an angle different from the first angle;   scanning a region of the spinal column with the scanning assembly to measure radiation from the source that is transmitted laterally through and region to the detector at the second angle; and   determining the density of bone within the spinal region from radiation received by the detector during scanning at the first and second angles.   
     
     
       2. The method of measuring bone density of claim 1 further comprising correlating the bone density measurement from the first angle with the bone density measurement from second angle. 
     
     
       3. The method of measuring bone density of claim 1 further comprising determining extra-osseous calcification of bone within the region. 
     
     
       4. The method of measuring bone density of claim 1 wherein each of the scanning steps further .[.comprised.]. .Iadd.comprises .Iaddend.displacing the detector in two perpendicular direction in a plane orthogonal to the alignment axis. 
     
     
       5. The method of measuring bone density of claim 1 wherein scanning at the first angle provides an anterior view of the spinal column. 
     
     
       6. The method of measuring bone density of claim 1 further comprising displacing the scanning assembly and the alignment axis to one side of the spinal region before rotating the assembly to the second angle. 
     
     
       7. The method of measuring bone density of claim 6 further comprising displacing the scanner assembly in a drawer such that said scanner assembly is suspended along the horizontal axis within the drawer, and is rotatable about said horizontal axis. 
     
     
       8. The method of measuring bone density of claim 7 wherein said drawer is displaced using telescoping rails in a direction .[.perpendicualr.]. .Iadd.perpendicular .Iaddend.to the horizontal axis. 
     
     
       9. The method of measuring bone density of claim .[.5 & 7.]. .Iadd.5 .Iaddend.further comprising balancing the source and detector with a balance element during rotation. 
     
     
       10. The method of measuring bone density of claim 1 further comprising positioning the object to be scanned on a table. 
     
     
       11. A method of radiologically scanning the spine comprising: positioning a patient on a horizontal support surface within an area to be scanned;   scanning the patient from a first position with a scanning assembly in two orthogonal directions such that a detector, which is rigidly aligned with the area to be scanned and secured to the assembly by an aligning member, receives radiation from a dual energy radiation source that is directed through a spinal region of the patient being scanned;   rotating said aligning member and the attached detector and scanning assembly about a horizontal axis to a lateral position relative to the spinal region;   scanning with the scanning assembly in two orthogonal directions from the lateral position such that the detector receives radiation from the dual energy radiation source that is directed laterally through the patient being scanned,; and determining the density of bone within the spinal region utilizing the detected radiation at the first and lateral positions.   
     
     
       12. The method of radialogically scanning objects claim 11 wherein said scanning assembly is translated such that the axis of rotation is displaced in a horizontal plane prior to rotation from an anterior position. 
     
     
       13. The method of radiologically scanning objects of claim 11 wherein an axis of alignment between the detector and the scanner assembly is rotated to a horizontal position above the support surface around said horizontal axis. .Iadd. 
     
     
       14.  A method of measuring bone density in the spine comprising: positioning a patient on a stationary support surface;   scanning a region of the patient's spinal column at a first angle by actuating a drive mechanism coupled to a scanning assembly for displacing the scanning assembly relative to the stationary support surface, the scanning assembly having a dual energy radiation source and a detector that is aligned along an alignment axis with the source to receive radiation transmitted through the region from the source during scanning along an axis of the spinal column;   rotating the radiation source, which is mounted to a rotatable platform, about a horizontal axis to a second angle such that the detector is aligned along an alignment axis with the source, the source and detector alignment axis extending laterally through the spinal region at an angle different from the first angle;   scanning a region of the spinal column by actuating the drive mechanism to displace the scanning assembly such that the detector receives radiation from the source that is transmitted laterally through the region at the second angle; and   determining the density of bone within the spinal region from radiation received by the detector during scanning at the first and second angles. .Iaddend. .Iadd.   
     
     
       15.  The method of measuring bone density of claim 14 further comprising correlating the bone density measurement from the first angle with the bone density measurement from the second angle. .Iaddend. .Iadd.16. The method of measuring bone density of claim 14 wherein each of the scanning steps comprises displacing the detector in two perpendicular directions in a plane orthogonal to the alignment axis. .Iaddend. .Iadd.17. The method of measuring bone density of claim 14 wherein scanning at the first angle provides an anterior view of the spinal column. .Iadd.18. The method of measuring bone density of claim 14 wherein the displacing step comprises extending the scanning assembly and the alignment axis in a horizontal direction perpendicular to the horizontal axis. .Iaddend. .Iadd.19. The method of measuring bone density of claim 14 further comprising providing a tray on which the source is mounted, the tray being rotatably mounted onto assembly plates. .Iaddend. .Iadd.20. The method of measuring bone density of claim 14 further comprising measuring extra-osseous 
     
     
        calcification in the spinal region. .Iaddend. .Iadd.21.  The method of measuring bone density of claim 14 further comprising programming a computer with scanning rate data and area to be scanned data for coordinating desired anterior and lateral scans. .Iaddend. .Iadd.22. The method of measuring bone density of claim 14 further comprising displacing the source to one side of the spinal region and rotating the source to the second angle such that the source is positioned above the horizontal axis. .Iaddend. .Iadd.23. A method of measuring bone density in the spine comprising: scanning a region of a patient's spinal column at a first angle with a scanning assembly having a substantially C-shaped member coupling a dual energy radiation source and a detector such that the detector is rigidly aligned along an alignment axis with the source by the C-shaped member to receive radiation transmitted through the region from the source during scanning along an axis of the spinal column;   rotating the C-shaped member, the radiation source and detector, which are mounted to a rotatable platform, about a horizontal axis to a second angle such that the source and detector alignment axis extends laterally through the spinal region at an angle different from the first angle;   scanning a region of the spinal column with the scanning assembly such that the detector receives radiation from the source that is transmitted laterally through the region to the detector at the second angle; and   determining the density of bone within the spinal region from radiation received by the detector during scanning at the first and second angle. .Iaddend. .Iadd.24. The method of measuring bone density of claim 23 further comprising correlating the bone density measurement from the first angle with the bone density measurement from the second angle. .Iaddend. .Iadd.25. The method of measuring bone density of claim 23 wherein each of the scanning steps comprises displacing the detector in two perpendicular directions in a plane orthogonal to the alignment axis. .Iaddend. .Iadd.26. The method of measuring bone density of claim 23 wherein scanning at the first angle provides an anterior view of the spinal column. .Iaddend. .Iadd.27. The method of measuring bone density of claim 23 further comprising displacing the scanning assembly and the alignment axis to one side of the spinal region before rotating the assembly to the   
     
     
        second angle. .Iaddend. .Iadd.28.  The method of measuring bone density of claim 27 wherein the displacing step comprises extending the scanning assembly and the alignment axis in a horizontal direction perpendicular to the horizontal axis. .Iaddend. .Iadd.29. The method of measuring bone density of claim 23 further comprising positioning the patient on a stationary support surface prior to scanning a region of the patient's spinal column. .Iaddend. .Iadd.30. The method of measuring bone density of claim 23 further comprising providing a tray on which the source is 
     
     
        mounted, the tray being rotatably mounted onto assembly plates. .Iadd.31. The method of measuring bone density of claim 23 further comprising measuring extra-osseous calcification in the spinal region. .Iaddend. .Iadd.32. The method of measuring bone density of claim 23 further comprising programming a computer with scanning rate data and area to be scanned data or coordinating desired anterior and lateral scans. .Iaddend. .Iadd.33. The method of measuring bone density of claim 23 further comprising displacing the source to one side of the spinal region and rotating the source to the second angle such that the source is positioned 
     
     
        above the horizontal axis. .Iaddend. .Iadd.34.  A method of quantitatively measuring bone density in the spine comprising: positioning a patient on a support surface;   scanning a region of the patient's spinal column at a first angle by displacing a scanning assembly relative to the support surface, the scanning assembly having a substantially C-shaped member coupling a dual energy radiation source and a detector such that the detector is rigidly aligned along an alignment axis with the source by the C-shaped member to receive radiation transmitted through the region from the source during scanning along an axis of the spinal column;   rotating the radiation source and detector, which are mounted to a rotatable platform, with the C-shaped member about a horizontal axis to a second angle such that the source and detector alignment axis extends laterally through the spinal region at an angle different from the first angle, the rotating step further comprising providing relative displacement between the horizontal axis and the support surface;   scanning a region of the spinal column by displacing the scanning assembly such that the detector receives radiation from the source that is transmitted laterally through the region to the detector at the second angle; and   determining the density of bone within the spinal region from radiation received by the detector during scanning at the first and second angles.   
     
     
        .Iaddend. .Iadd.35.  The method of measuring bone density of claim 34 further comprising correlating the bone density measurement from the first angle with the bone density measurement from the second angle. .Iaddend. .Iadd.36. The method of measuring bone density of claim 34 further comprising determining extra-osseous calcification of bone within the region. .Iaddend. .Iadd.37. The method of measuring bone density of claim 34 further comprising extending the scanning assembly and the alignment axis in a horizontal direction perpendicular to the horizontal axis before 
     
     
        rotating the assembly to the second angle. .Iaddend. .Iadd.38.  The method of measuring bone density of claim 34 further comprising providing a tray on which the source is mounted, the tray being rotatably mounted onto 
     
     
        assembly plates. .Iaddend. .Iadd.39.  The method of measuring bone density of claim 34 wherein the radiation source is positioned under the support surface during scanning at the first angle. .Iaddend. .Iadd.40. The method of measuring bone density of claim 34 further comprising programming a computer with scanning rate data and area to be scanned data for coordinating a desired scan. .Iaddend. .Iadd.41. The method of measuring bone density of claim 34 further comprising displacing the source to one side of the spinal region and rotating the source to the second angle such that the source is positioned above the horizontal axis. .Iaddend. .Iadd.42. A method of measuring bone density in the spine comprising: scanning a region of a spinal column at a first angle by displacing a scanning assembly having a dual energy radiation source positioned below the region of the spinal column being scanned, the source directing radiation through the region to a detector that is aligned along an alignment axis with the source during scanning along an axis of the spinal column;   rotating the radiation source and detector, which are mounted to a rotatable platform, about a horizontal axis to a second angle such that the source and detector alignment axis extends laterally through the spinal region at an angle different from the first angle;   scanning a region of the spinal column by displacing the scanning assembly such that the detector receives radiation from the source that is transmitted laterally through the region at the second angle; and   determining the density of bone within the spinal region from radiation received by the detector during scanning at the first and second angles. .Iaddend. .Iadd.43. The method of measuring bone density of claim 42 further comprising correlating the bone density measurement from the first angle with the bone density measurement from the second angle. .Iaddend. .Iadd.44. The method of measuring bone density of claim 42 wherein each of the scanning steps comprises displacing the detector in two perpendicular directions in a plane orthogonal to the alignment axis. .Iaddend. .Iadd.45. The method of measuring bone density of claim 42 wherein scanning at the first angle provides an anterior view of the spinal column. .Iaddend. .Iadd.46. The method of measuring bone density of claim 42 further comprising displacing the scanning assembly and the alignment axis to one side of the spinal region before rotting the assembly to the second angle. .Iaddend. .Iadd.47. The method of measuring bone density of claim 46 wherein the displacing step comprises extending the scanning assembly and the alignment axis in a horizontal direction perpendicular to   
     
     
        the horizontal axis. .Iaddend. .Iadd.48.  The method of measuring bone density of claim 42 further comprising providing a tray on which the source is mounted, the tray being rotatably mounted onto assembly plates. 
     
     
        .Iaddend. .Iadd.49.  The method of measuring bone density of claim 42 further comprising measuring extra-osseous calcification in the spinal region. .Iaddend. .Iadd.50. The method of measuring bone density of claim 42 further comprising programming a computer with scanning rate data and area to be scanned data for coordinating a desired scan. .Iaddend. .Iadd.51. The method of measuring bone density of claim 42 further comprising displacing the source to one side of the spinal region and rotating the source to the second angle such that the source is positioned above the horizontal axis. .Iaddend. .Iadd.52. A method of quantitatively measuring bone density in the spine comprising: scanning a region of a patient's spinal column at a first angle with a scanning assembly having a detector and a dual energy radiation source being mounted on rotatable platform that is actuated by a threaded x-bar or a threaded y-bar such that the platform is capable of being displaced in two perpendicular directions in a plane, the detector being rigidly aligned along an alignment axis with the source to receive radiation transmitted through the region from the source during scanning along an axis of the spinal column;   rotating the radiation source and detector, which are mounted to the rotatable platform, about a horizontal axis to a second angle such that the source and detector alignment axis extends laterally through the spinal region at an angle different from the first angle;   scanning a region of the spinal column with the scanning assembly such that the detector receives radiation from the source that is transmitted laterally through the region to the detector at the second angle; and   determining the density of bone within the spinal region from radiation received by the detector during scanning at the first and second angles. .Iaddend. .Iadd.53. The method of measuring bone density of claim 52 further comprising correlating the bone density measurement from the first angle with the bone density measurement from the second angle. .Iaddend. .Iadd.54. The method of measuring bone density of claim 52 wherein each of the scanning steps comprises displacing the detector in two perpendicular direction in a plane orthogonal to the alignment axis by rotating the threaded x-bar or the threaded y-bar. .Iaddend. .Iadd.55. The method of measuring bone density of claim 52 wherein scanning at the first angle provides an anterior view of the spinal column. .Iaddend. .Iadd.56. The method of measuring bone density of claim 52 further comprising displacing the scanning assembly and the alignment axis to one side of the spinal region before rotating the assembly to the second angle. .Iaddend. .Iadd.57. The method of measuring bone density of claim 56 wherein the displacing step comprises extending the scanning assembly and the alignment axis in a horizontal direction perpendicular to the horizontal axis. .Iaddend. .Iadd.58. The method of measuring bone density of claim 52 further comprising positioning the patient on a stationary support surface prior to scanning a region of the patient's spinal column. .Iaddend. .Iadd.59. The method of measuring bone density of claim 52 further comprising providing a tray on which the source is mounted, the tray being rotatably mounted onto assembly plates. .Iaddend. .Iadd.60. The method of measuring bone density of claim 52 further comprising measuring extra-osseous calcification in the spinal region. .Iaddend. .Iadd.61. The method of measuring bone density of claim 52 further comprising programming a computer with scanning rate data and area to be scanned data for coordinating a desired scan. .Iaddend. .Iadd.62. The method of measuring bone density of claim 52 further comprising displacing the source to one side of the spinal region and rotating the source to the second angle such that the source is positioned above the horizontal axis. .Iaddend. .Iadd.63. A method of measuring bone density in the spine comprising:   positioning a patient in a supine position on a stationary support surface;   scanning a region of the patient's spinal column at a first angle by actuating a drive mechanism coupled to a scanning assembly for displacing the scanning assembly, the scanning assembly having a substantially C-shaped member coupling a dual energy radiation source positioned below the region of the spinal column being scanned and a detector such that the detector is rigidly aligned along an alignment axis with the source by the C-shaped member to receive radiation transmitted through the region from the source during scanning along an axis of the spinal column, the source being mounted on a rotatable platform that is actuated by rotation of a threaded x-bar and a threaded y-bar that is perpendicular to the x-bar such that the platform is capable of being displaced in two perpendicular directions in a plane;   rotating the C-shaped member, the radiation source and detector, which are mounted to the rotatable platform, about a horizontal axis to a second angle such that the source and detector alignment axis extends laterally through the spinal region at an angle different from the first angle;   scanning a region of the spinal column with the patient remaining stationary in the supine position by actuating the drive mechanism for displacing the scanning assembly such that the detector receives radiation from the source that is transmitted laterally through the region to the detector at the second angle; and   determining the density of bone within the spinal region from radiation received in the detector during scanning at the first and second angles. .Iaddend. .Iadd.64. The method of measuring bone density of claim 63 further comprising correlating the bone density measurement from the first angle with the bone density measurement from the second angle. .Iaddend. .Iadd.65. The method of measuring bone density of claim 63 further comprising determining extra-osseous calcification of bone within the region. .Iaddend. .Iadd.66. The method of measuring bone density of claim 63 further comprising extending the scanning assembly and the alignment axis in a horizontal direction perpendicular to the horizontal axis before rotating the assembly to the first and second angle. .Iaddend. .Iadd.67. The method of measuring bone density of claim 63 further comprising providing a tray on which the source is mounted, the tray being rotatably mounted onto assembly plates. .Iaddend. .Iadd.68. The method of measuring bone density of claim 63 wherein scanning at the first angle provides an anterior view of the spinal column. .Iaddend. .Iadd.69. The method of measuring bone density of claim 63 further comprising programming a computer with scanning rate data and area to be scanned data for   
     
     
        coordinating a desired scan. .Iaddend. .Iadd.70.  The method of measuring bone density of claim 63 further comprising displacing the source to one side of the spinal region and rotating the source to the second angle such that the source is positioned above the horizontal axis. .Iaddend. 
     
     
        .Iadd.  .  The method of quantitatively measuring bone density in the spine comprising: positioning a patient on a stationary support surface;   scanning a region of the patient's spinal column at a first angle by displacing a scanning assembly having a detector and a dual energy radiation source positioned below the spinal region being scanned, the source being mounted onto a rotatable platform that is actuated for scanning by rotation of a threaded y-bar or a threaded x-bar such that the platform is capable of being displaced in two perpendicular directions in a plane, the detector being aligned along an alignment axis with the source to receive radiation transmitted through the region from the source during scanning along an axis of the spinal column;   displacing the radiation source and detector to one side of the spinal region;   rotating the radiation source and detector, which are mounted to the rotatable platform, about a horizontal axis to a second angle such that the source and detector alignment axis extends laterally through the spinal region at an angle different from the first angle, the rotated source being located above the horizontal axis;   scanning a region of the spinal column by actuating the drive mechanism for displacing the scanning assembly such that the detector receives radiation from the source that is transmitted laterally through the region at the second angle; and   determining the density of bone within the spinal region from radiation received by the detector during scanning at the first and second angles.   
     
     
        .Iaddend. .Iadd.72.  The method of measuring bone density of claim 71 further comprising correlating the bone density measurement from the first angle with the bone density measurement from the second angle. .Iaddend. .Iadd.73. The method of measuring bone density of claim 71 wherein each of the scanning steps comprises displacing the detector in two perpendicular directions in a plane orthogonal to the alignment axis. .Iaddend. .Iadd.74. The method of measuring bone density of claim 71 wherein scanning at the first angle provides an anterior view of the spinal column. .Iaddend. .Iadd.75. The method of measuring bone density of claim 71 wherein the displacing step comprises extending the scanning assembly and the alignment axis in a horizontal direction perpendicular to the 
     
     
        horizontal axis. .Iaddend. .Iadd.76.  The method of measuring bone density of claim 71 further comprising providing a tray on which the source is mounted, the tray being rotatably mounted onto assembly plates. .Iaddend. 
     
     
        .Iadd.77.  The method of measuring bone density of claim 71 further comprising measuring extra-osseous calcification in the spinal region. .Iaddend. .Iadd.78. The method of measuring bone density of claim 71 further comprising programming a computer with scanning rate data and area to be scanned data for coordinating a desired scan. .Iaddend.