Carestream Molecular Imaging Introduces Bone Density Image Analysis Software

Carestream Molecular Imaging, a division of Carestream Health, Inc., announced a new software module that enables users to perform bone mineral density analysis of small animals and in vitro specimens using multi-energy digital x-ray imaging. The software is designed for numerous applications ranging from the study of diseases of the bone, such as arthritis and osteoporosis, to the efficency of drugs and other treatment options that may affect bone mineral and other densities.

As an optional component of the company’s KODAK Molecular Imaging Software—used by thousands of researchers worldwide—the new module uses a cylindrical modeling method to calculate the bone column density of selected long bones such as the tibia, fibula, metatarsals and phalanges in small animals. The system utilizes “soft” x-rays and provides the high resolution required for repeatedly measuring specific segments of single long bones, as opposed to the typical whole body bone density analysis that has shown to be less reliable and difficult to interpret.

“A distinct advantage of our new software is that users are able to very precisely analyze specific bone density changes,“ said Bill McLaughlin, Director of Research and Advanced Applications, Carestream Molecular Imaging. “We expect this level of precision will significantly contribute to early detection and monitoring of disease, developmental abnormalities and therapeutic treatments.”
The software utilizes cylindrical modeling that is sophisticated enough to provide measurements not only of the density of the bone, but also of the bone marrow, providing another important parameter useful for the tracking of disease development and monitoring.

The software is designed for use with the, KODAK In-Vivo Multispectral FX, KODAK In-Vivo FX Pro and KODAK DXS 4000 Pro Systems. The In-Vivo FX Pro and the In-Vivo Multispectral FX combine high-sensitivity optical molecular imaging and high resolution digital x-ray to deliver precise anatomical localization of molecular and cellular biomarkers, while the DXS 4000 Pro produces high-resolution radiographs of medical, life science and material science research specimens. With exceptional resolution of up to 25 line pairs per millimeter without geometric magnification, the DXS 4000 Pro system offers the highest resolution available for digital specimen radiography.

Availability
Carestream Molecular Imaging’s bone mineral density software module will be available later this year. The module will be sold as an add-on component for KODAK Molecular Imaging Software version 5.0, which supports Windows and Macintosh platforms. For more information, visit the company webpage.