Abstract: The invention provides method, system and device for determining trabecular bone structure and strength by digital topological analysis, and offers, for the first time, a demonstration of superior associations between vertebral deformity and a number of architectural indices measured in the distal radius, thus permitting reliable and noninvasive detection and determination of the pathogenesis of osteoporosis. A preferred embodiment provides imaging in three dimension of a region of trabecular bone, after which the 3D image is converted into a skeletonized surface representation. Digital topological analysis is applied to the converted image, and each image voxel is identified and classified as a curve, a surface, or a junction; and then associated with microarchitectural indices of trabecular bone to quantitatively characterize the trabecular bone network. The invention is applicable in vivo, particularly on human subjects, or ex vivo.

Abstract: The present indention comprises a system and method for analyzing trabecular bone structure. A means for scanning the trabecular bone using a magnetic resonance image (MRI) scanner generates bone image data, which is then processed including correcting, deshadi4 and reducing noise in the image data.

Abstract: A technique for accurately measuring two different spin configurations of transverse magnetization from which the reversible dephasing rate constant R.sub.2 ' can be calculated. Such reversible dephasing may be caused by magnetic field inhomogeneity such as arising from intravascular changes in the oxidation state of hemoglobin, from brain iron, or from cancellous bone, which allows these characteristics to be measured. The different spin configurations can be measured in a single scan by deriving a small R.sub.2 ' through independent and separate measurements of the two magnetization configurations generated by two RF pulses. The two configurations can be recalled independently of each other since they are affected differently by respective gradients flanking the .beta.-pulse which permit one spin configuration to decay with T.sub.2 while the other decays with T.sub.2 * from the same RF pulse.