Bone movement analysis from computer processing of X-ray cinematic video images

A method for the analysis of motion of the human spine from X-ray cinematic video images is outlined. A simple high speed algorithm tracks four points placed by an operator to outline vertebrae of interest on the middle image in the sequence. From the co-ordinates of the tracked points various types of vertebral motion are computed. Motion signatures for patients with known spinal conditions clearly show that individual vertebrae do not move smoothly, but proceed in an erratic fashion as the vertebrae jam and then release.<
>