An Investigation Into the Noninvasive Assessment of Bone Density Using Multiplexed Compton Scattered Tomography

• Main Author: Sands, Marc J
• Format: Report
• Language: English
• Subjects: ALUMINUM; Anatomy and Physiology; BONES; CLINICAL MEDICINE; COMPTON SCATTERING; COMPUTERIZED TOMOGRAPHY; DENSITY; DETECTION; FEASIBILITY STUDIES; MCST(MULTIPLEXED COMPTON SCATTER TOMOGRAPH); MEASUREMENT; Nuclear Physics & Elementary Particle Physics; OSTEOPOROSIS; SIMULATION; THICKNESS; VOIDS; WRIST

The purpose of this research is to investigate the application of a Compton scatter imaging technique to measure bone density. A demonstration Multiplexed Compton Scatter Tomograph (MCST) was assembled to demonstrate the feasibility of detecting osteoporosis by modifying a system originally designed to detect hidden corrosion in aluminum aircraft wings. Measurements were performed on an aluminum phantom representing a wrist bone containing varying densities in the center and varying thickness of the cortical shell. The densities in the center are comparable to normal trabecular bone, sixty-percent of normal trabecular bone and a void. The MCST images of the phantom were then compared to simulated images from a detector. The images and simulations were also compared to images from a clinical computed tomography (CT) scanner. Based on the results, the MCST can discern the features represented by the trabecular bone. The system was able to differentiate normal, osteoporotic and void densities.