System for assessing bone characteristics

United States Patent

Weinstein et al.

[19]

US006029078A [ii] Patent Number: 6,029,078 [45] Date of Patent: *Feb. 22,2000

[54] SYSTEM FOR ASSESSING BONE CHARACTERISTICS

[75] Inventors: Joel B. Weinstein, Framington; Donald Barry, Norwood, both of Mass.

[73] Assignee: Hologic, Inc., Bedford, Mass.

[ * ] Notice: This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

[21] Appl. No.: 09/013,361 [22] Filed: Jan. 23, 1998

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(List continued on next page.)

Primary Examiner—Francis J. Jaworski

Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Cooper & Dunham LLP

378/55

A system and method for determining bone characteristic data is provided. The system combines a biochemical bone measuring unit with a densitometric bone measuring unit to determine the bone characteristic data. Once the bone characteristic data is ascertained, a determination of whether bone formation or bone resorption is occurring is made and future bone characteristics can be projected.

46 Claims, 19 Drawing Sheets

OTHER PUBLICATIONS

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