Bone mineral measurement with a continuous roentgen ray spectrum and a germanium detector

A new technique for determination of the bone mineral content in the vertebral body by means of a laterally directed roentgen ray beam is presented. By using a stable high voltage for the roentgen tube and a stable detector with very high energy resolution, the amount of bone mineral in the path of the radiation beam can be determined with correction for both fat and lean soft tissue. The results so far indicate that the technique is useful for objective determination of the bone mineral content in the vertebral body.