Patent ID: 8532362

Claim:
A measuring device for analyzing a radiograph of an interphalangeal finger joint to obtain a numerical scoring for the grade of destruction or the grade of remodeling and repair of the interphalangeal finger joint, said device having input means to select landmarks on said radiograph and means for computing on the basis of the received landmarks; the amount of normal tissue of the subchondral bone, the amount of normal tissue of the subchondral bone plate, and the amount of a normal joint space on a series of at least two consecutive radiographs of the same interphalangeal finger joint of said subject; characterized in that; the landmark to determine the amount of normal tissue of the subchondral bone consists of a rectangular square of which the height equals the width of the joint space, and wherein the joint space is positioned in the centre of this square; the landmark to determine the amount of normal tissue of the subchondral plate consist of subchondral bone plate marking lines delineating regular radioopaque linear structures bordering the original joint space; and a subchondral bone plate reference line in the centre of said rectangular square, having a length corresponding to twice the width of the joint space; and the landmark to determine the amount of normal joint space consists of joint space lines marking the translucent area bordered by two of said subchondral bone plate marking lines; and a joint space reference line having a length corresponding to the width of the joint space.