Abstract: A method and system for detection and tracking of osteoporosis is disclosed. A method of characterizing an image of a target vertebra includes building a computer model from a set of sample images of pathological and non-pathological variations of vertebrae representing variations in shape of the vertebrae. The method also includes receiving an image of a target vertebra of a subject and automatically estimating contours of lateral outlines of the superior and the inferior cortical endplates of the image. The parameters of the model are varied to determine a set that represents a model shape that approximates the estimated contours of the outlines of the cortical endplates. The method includes automatically characterizing the target vertebra based on the set of model parameters that are determined and outputting on a display device the characterization of the target vertebra.

Abstract: Methods for producing an image indicative of arthritic symptomatology are provided. The methods during a model building phase create a constrained deformable statistical template. The methods then during a runtime phase fit a plurality of loci in a digitized target radiograph of the specified joint; parameterize positions of the plurality of loci fitted in the digitized target radiograph to generate an instance of the statistical template by deriving values for parameters of the digitized target radiograph from the statistical template; search the digitized target radiograph by applying the statistical template to the digitized target radiograph until an optimal fit of the statistical template to at least one region of the digitized target radiograph is found; and produce a comparison image by comparing the at least one region of the digitized target radiograph with the optimal fit of the statistical template.

Abstract: A method and system for characterizing a knee joint in terms of its skeletal morphology. A plurality of loci associated with a model of skeletal structure of a knee joint are fitted and used to parameterize positions of the plurality of loci in a given subject and, thereby, to derive parameters of a deformable statistical template. The skeletal morphology is then characterized on the basis of the derived parameters of the deformable statistical template.

Abstract: A method and system for characterizing a knee joint in terms of its skeletal morphology. A plurality of loci associated with a model of skeletal structure of a knee joint are fitted and used to parameterize positions of the plurality of loci in a given subject and, thereby, to derive parameters of a deformable statistical template. The skeletal morphology is then characterized on the basis of the derived parameters of the deformable statistical template.