Patent ID: 7804992
Filing Date: 2010-09-28
Classification: A61B,G06T,G16H,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A computer-implemented method of estimating cardiovascular risk information for a patient using aortic calcification information obtained with a dual x-ray energy range bone densitometer and generating a record of the estimated risk together with a record of bone assessment information, comprising: obtaining dual energy range x-ray measurements of a patient's anatomy that includes a selected portion of the patient's aorta, by using a dual energy range bone densitometer; deriving digital image information describing an image of at least the selected portion of the patient's aorta, by computer processing that uses said x-ray measurements; producing aortic calcification information describing at least one selected calcification property of the selected portion of the aorta, by computer processing that uses the digital image information; estimating cardiovascular risk information related to an assessment of risk of a cardiovascular event by computer processing that uses the aortic calcification information; calculating first bone assessment information, by computer processing that uses the digital image information; and reporting the estimated cardiovascular risk information and the calculated bone assessment information.