MORPH - Analysis of 3D trabecular bone morphology
Introduction
The mechanical properties of trabecular bone are
determined in part by the 3D morphology. To determine
the relative importance of trabecular bone morphology
to its mechanical behavior, to evaluate the response of
trabecular bone to treatments, and to evaluate the response
of trabecular bone to altered loading conditions, quantitative
measurements of the amount and orientation of bone are required.
The program, t3m.c, can quantify volume fraction of bone, the
surface area of the bone, and the orientation of the trabeculae.
The measurements are based on a the number of intersections between
a set of test lines and the bone-marrow interface. The mean
intercept lengths are calculated for several random orientations of
the test lines, and these data are fit to an ellipsoid. The aspect
ratios of the ellipsoid can be used to quantify the anisotropy
of the bone. The program requires a 3D data set that can be
obtained by serial sectioning/grinding, micro-CT, or micro-MRI.
Extensive validation stduies have been completed. The program
has been compiled on SUN workstations, but should be easily
portable to other platforms.
Simmons CA, Hipp JA. "Methods-based differencein the automated analysis
of the three-dimensional morphology of trabecular bone." J Bone and
Mineral Research 1997. 12:942-947.
Files:
Instructions for installation and use are included in the main program.
Contributed by:
John A. Hipp, Ph.D. voice: (617) 667-4564
Orthopaedic Biomechanics Laboratory FAX: (617) 667-4561
Beth Israel Hospital and page: (617) 667-5555 ID 1657
Harvard Medical School email: jah@bihobl2.bih.harvard.edu
330 Brookline Ave
Boston MA 02215
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