A method and apparatus for providing information are provided. The method includes measuring biometric information corresponding to a health condition of a body part of a user, determining a visual metaphor representation for characterizing a degree of the health condition based on mapping information between components of the visual metaphor representation and types of the measured biometric information, transforming, by a processor, the measured biometric information into the determined visual metaphor representation, and providing the transformed visual metaphor representation.

A method of assessing spinal column stability involves receiving image data corresponding to a spinal column of a patient; determining, based on the image data, a material strength of bony anatomy in at least a portion of the spinal column; completing a first stability assessment of the spinal column, based at least in part on the determined material strength; modifying the image data to simulate removal of bony anatomy or soft tissue from the spinal column to yield modified image data; and completing a second stability assessment of the spinal column, based at least in part on the determined material strength and the modified image data.

The present application describes fitness facilities that include DEXA scanners, and methods of use thereof to establish or modify fitness and/or nutritional regimens for patrons of the fitness facilities. Various fitness facilities are described in which the interpretation of DEXA scan results is performed either on- or off-site. The fitness facilities of the invention can include a counseling center staffed with fitness trainers and/or nutrition experts for counseling subjects on issues relating to fitness and/or nutrition.

Disclosed is a way to provide a medical image processing device that may include a hardware processor that calculates at least one of trabecular connectivity, trabecular width, trabecular number, mineralization degree, osteoid volume, cortical width, and cortical porosity as a bone characteristic indicator of a subject from reconstructed image data generated from moiré image data acquired by photographing the subject.

A body fat measuring apparatus, system and pairing method thereof are provided. The body fat measuring apparatus and system include: a measuring unit provided for determining a current body weight and a current impedance of a user, and the current body weight and the current impedance used as a current analysis data set; a storage unit provided for cumulatively storing a user name, a user characteristic information related to the user name, and a plurality of recorded analysis data sets corresponding to the user names; and a processor provided for pairing the user name, reading the user characteristic information related to the user name, and obtaining a body fat information by calculating with the current body weight and the current impedance of the user.

A method of assessing spinal column stability involves receiving image data corresponding to a spinal column of a patient; determining, based on the image data, a material strength of bony anatomy in at least a portion of the spinal column; completing a first stability assessment of the spinal column, based at least in part on the determined material strength; modifying the image data to simulate removal of bony anatomy or soft tissue from the spinal column to yield modified image data; and completing a second stability assessment of the spinal column, based at least in part on the determined material strength and the modified image data.

Systems and methods for real-time tracking of photoacoustic sensing are provided. In one aspect, a method for performing in vivo analysis of a subject is provided. The method includes directing an electromagnetic excitation toward a subject to be analyzed, and acquiring, with an ultrasound probe, data about resultant waves caused by the electromagnetic excitation. The method also includes processing the acquired data to extract information related to properties of tissues in the subject, and comparing the information related to the properties of tissues in the subject using a set of criteria. The method also includes generating a report about a condition of the subject based on the comparison of the information related to properties of the tissues in the subject.

The present disclosure is directed to methods and apparatus for monitoring bone characteristics for various conditions such as osteoporosis and/or periodontitis. In various embodiments, a dental hygiene appliance (100) may include: a handle (102) adapted to be held by a user; a tool (106) secured to the handle to perform a dental hygiene-related task; emitter(s) (114A, 116, 360A) mounted on the dental hygiene appliance to emit wave(s) (252, 362) towards a mandible (250, 350) of the user; sensor(s) (114B, 116, 360B) mounted on the dental hygiene appliance to detect wave(s) (254, 364) propagating away from the mandible, wherein the detected wave(s) originate from or are caused by the emitted wave(s); and a controller (108) communicatively coupled with the emitter(s) and the sensor(s). The controller may: receive, from the sensor(s), signal(s) indicative of the detected waves; and determine, based on the signal(s), bone characteristic(s) of the user.

The invention is measurement of two categories of medical attributes that proceed the causes previously measured to cause lower musculoskeletal (MSK) injuries including stress fractures. The innovation is the measurement of increase in the risk for lower musculoskeletal (MSK) injuries, including stress fractures, due to genetic factors that cause disease (pre-cursors of the disease) as an independent cause for an increase in the risk of MSK injuries, and the diseased states themselves as a cause of increased risk for lower MSK injuries. The method to be used for this measurement will be through statistical and quasi-experimental design. The innovation of measuring the genetic pre-cursor of diseases and these diseases themselves includes them as antecedents for the previously measured causes of stress fractures; such as biomechanical and anatomical factors; muscle power; muscle, ligament and tendon flexibility; equipment used; nutritional; bone mineral density; smoking; amenorrhea; estrogen, among others.

An apparatus and a method for providing information are provided. The apparatus includes an interfacing unit configured to receive biometric information, which is measured by an external measuring device, corresponding to a health condition of a body part of a user, from the external measuring device; and a processor configured to determine a visual metaphor representation for characterizing a degree of the health condition based on mapping information between components of the visual metaphor representation and types of the received biometric information, and transform the received biometric information into the determined visual metaphor representation, where the interfacing unit is configured to transmit the transformed visual metaphor representation to an external displaying device.