Patent ID: 8457377

Claim:
A method comprising: (a) acquiring a plurality of medical diagnostic images of a neuro-axis of a patient with fast sagittal MRI opposed-phase fast gradient recalled echo sequences having a total acquisition time of less than one minute, wherein the parameters of the sequences are selected so that discs have the local intensity maxima amongst spinal structures; and (b) executing a program, which is stored in a computer memory, by a processor for: (i) generating a composite midline sagittal image volume of the neuro-axis by combining two or more medical diagnostic images from the plurality of medical diagnostic images, wherein the generated composite midline sagittal image volume includes at least a portion of all interspaces and vertebrae between the patient's axis (C-2 vertebra) and sacrum; and, (ii) automatically identifying a plurality of spinal structures in the composite midline sagittal image volume by executing an algorithm which identifies spinal structures based on signal intensity in the composite midline sagittal image volume.