METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR DETERMINING PROPORTIONS OF BODY MATERIALS

摘要

The present invention provides an apparatus and methods for measuring proportion of body materials hi body parts. The apparatus includes a device (340) for retaining the body part (330), at least one reference material (310) with at least two thicknesses positioned adjacent to the device, and at least three radiopaque markers (320) positioned on the reference material(s). The reference material(s) each have an attenuation characteristic that is selected in correspondence to the body materials hi the body part. The apparatus further includes a radiation device to simultaneously irradiate the body part, the reference materials) and the radiopaque markers as well as a detector to detect attenuated beams of radiation and a pattern projected from the irradiated radiopaque markers. A calculation device determines the thickness of the body part based on this projected pattern and compares the attenuation values of the body part and the reference materials) at the determined thickness.