Automatic processing and analysis of the structural properties of bone tissue

Abstract

The volumetric distribution of bone tissue can be analysed in terms of orthotropic medium. In this case, it is important to define the orthotropic directions. Nowadays, computed tomography methods allow getting such information. The method for automation such analysis is presented. Firstly, the threshold of binarization should be calculated. Then the sample should be meshed and each element should be binarized. After that fabric tensor, eigenvalues, eigenvectors and fractional anisotropy can be calculated for each element. Statistical methods were used to analyse the field of the obtained data. Described methods were used on a bone sample. It was shown that for a sample the fabric tensor is constant and the fractional anisotropy is close to zero. That’s means that the medium in the sample was isotropic.