Patent ID: 7643664

Claim:
A computerized system for analyzing trabecular bone structure of a selected anatomical region, the system comprising: magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) coil for scanning or rescanning the trabecular bone in the immobilized selected region to generate MR bone image data, wherein image data comprises data acquired by signals emitted from bone marrow regions of the scanned trabecular bone; computer processor(s) operably linked to the scanner, to produce processed or unprocessed image data or for creating derived quantitative parameters, or combinations thereof, permitting visualization or mapping of the derived parameters; operating computer readable medium comprising the data and parameters, and encoded with one of the following: computer program software; computer executable instructions or instructions executed by the computer processor; computer code for processing the image data or for creating derived quantitative parameters, or combinations thereof, the code causing operations comprising, individually or in combination, a function for correcting the image data to compensate for movement of a selected region relative to the coil during the scanning; a function for deshading the image data to minimize the effects of radio frequency inhomogeneity; and a function for reducing noise in the image data, a function for determining trabecular thickness; a function for providing structural anisotropy; a function for providing topological analysis; and a function for calculating network strength; and reporting component for outputting the processed image data or derived quantitative parameters, or for visualizing same, or combinations thereof.