Patent ID: 6385283
Filing Date: 2002-05-07
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
A method of using an x-ray bone densitometer to derive and display each of numerical bone mineral density (BMD) data for the patient, a lateral image of at least a majority of both the lumbar and thoracic vertebrae of the patient, and future bone fracture risk data for the patient, comprising:using the same x-ray densitometer to scan a patient with x-rays and generate both numerical bone mineral density (BMD) data for the patient and a lateral image of at least a majority of both the lumbar and thoracic vertebrae of the patient; providing current fracture data relating to the presence or absence of vertebral fractures or deformities in the image; computer-processing the BMD data and the current fracture data to produce future bone fracture data taking into account both the BMD data and the current fracture data; and displaying a report showing the numeric BMD data, the image, and the future bone fracture risk data.