Patent ID: 6302582
Filing Date: 2001-10-16
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
A spine phantom for calibrating a dual energy x-ray attenuation measurement device for measuring vertebral bone density, the spine phantom comprising:a vertebra-simulating body having a base surface extending in longitudinal and transverse directions to support the vertebra-simulating body substantially perpendicular to an x-ray beam of the measurement device, the vertebra-simulating body defining:an intervertebral section extending from a longitudinal end of the base surface upward to a first height, the intervertebral section simulating the x-ray attenuation characteristics of cartilage disposed between vertebrae of a human spine;a composite bone section adjacent to the intervertebral section and extending from the base surface upward to a second height greater than the first height, the composite bone section simulating the x-ray attenuation characteristics of trabecular and cortical bone regions of human vertebrae; andcortical wall sections extending upward from the base surface to a third height greater than the second height, the cortical wall sections transversely flanking the composite bone section and simulating the x-ray attenuation characteristics of cortical bone walls of human vertebrae;whereby different x-ray attenuation characteristics of the intervertebral, composite bone and cortical wall sections are effected by the sections being at different first, second and third heights, respectively.