Patent ID: 8724865

Claim:
A computer-implemented method for analyzing intervertebral motion of a spine, comprising: acquiring a first image of a spine having a plurality of vertebrae in a first position; acquiring a second image of the spine in a second position, wherein the first and second images are acquired from a substantially similar acquisition position; displaying the first and second images on a display; selecting at least two landmarks along a first target vertebrae of the spine displayed in the first image; electronically transferring the selected at least two landmarks to the second image; alternatingly displaying the first and second images to display relative movement of the spine between the first and second positions; stabilizing the first target vertebrae in the second image in a manner that aligns the first target vertebrae in the second image with the first target vertebrae in the first image such that the first target vertebrae appears stationary as the first and second images are alternatingly displayed in a manner that represents the spine moving between the first and second positions; displaying relative motion between the stabilized first target vertebrae and other vertebrae along the spine; and analyzing intervertebral motion of the spine based upon the relative motion between the first target vertebrae and the other vertebrae along the spine, wherein analyzing intervertebral motion further comprises: selecting at least two landmarks along a second target vertebrae of the spine displayed in the first image; electronically transferring the selected at least two landmarks of the second target vertebrae to the second image; alternately displaying the first and second images to display relative movement of the spine between the first and second positions; stabilizing the second target vertebrae in second image such that the second target vertebrae appears stationary as the spine moves between the first and second positions; displaying relative motion between the stabilized second target vertebrae and other vertebrae along the spine; and quantifying the relative motion between the first target vertebrae and the second target vertebrae.