Vascular structure and function coupling analysis method and system based on multi-mode MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging)

Abstract

The invention discloses a blood vessel structure and function coupling analysis method and system based on multi-mode MRI, and belongs to the field of medical image analysis and computational physiology. According to the method, 4D Flow MRI hemodynamic data and blood vessel spatial configuration features are fused, and the problem that in the prior art, structure and function analysis is split, and the coupling relation between the structure and the function cannot be revealed is solved. The method comprises the core steps of blood vessel image acquisition and preprocessing, structural feature extraction, functional parameter calculation, coupling analysis and result output, and the system correspondingly comprises functional modules. According to the method, automatic registration and collaborative analysis of structural-functional data are realized, comprehensive support can be provided for diagnosis of diseases such as liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension and TIPS surgical planning, and clinical prediction accuracy and diagnosis and treatment efficiency are improved.

Description

A method and system for coupling analysis of vascular structure and function based on multimodal MRI Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of medical image analysis and computational physiology, and in particular to a method and system for coupling analysis of vascular structure and function based on multimodal MRI. Background Technology

[0002] Clinical assessment and treatment of vascular diseases rely on a comprehensive understanding of vascular structure and function. Currently, related technologies are mainly divided into two categories: one is vascular morphological analysis based on CT / MRI, which can obtain structural parameters such as vascular diameter, length, and bifurcation angle, but lacks hemodynamic information and cannot reflect the functional status of blood vessels; the other is functional analysis based on 4D Flow MRI, which can provide blood flow parameters such as flow velocity, flow rate, and shear force, but cannot directly correlate with the spatial configuration characteristics of blood vessels.

[0003] Existing technologies have significant drawbacks: First, the limitations of single-modal analysis prevent the revelation of the coupling relationship between vascular structure and function, such as the inability to determine whether highly tortuous vessels lead to abnormal blood flow. Second, the analysis of structural and functional data is independent, requiring manual data matching, which is not only inefficient but also prone to introducing human error. Finally, relying solely on blood flow or structural parameters for clinical assessment cannot comprehensively predict disease progression and surgical complications, such as the risk of thrombosis after TIPS, and is insufficient to meet the precise needs of clinical diagnosis and treatment. Therefore, we propose a method and system for coupling analysis of vascular structure and function based on multimodal MRI. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The main objective of this invention is to provide a method and system for coupling analysis of vascular structure and function based on multimodal MRI, which can effectively solve the problems in the background art.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the technical solution adopted by this invention is as follows: a method for coupling analysis of vascular structure and function based on multimodal MRI, with the following specific steps: S1, Image data acquisition: Acquire multimodal MRI data of the target object, including 3D TOF or MR Angio images for acquiring vascular structure information, and 4D Flow MRI images for acquiring hemodynamic information; S2, Preprocessing: Binarize the 3D TOF or MR Angio images to obtain a clear vascular template; use the Lee method to extract the vascular skeleton from the vascular template, and perform dilation processing on the skeleton to facilitate observation and subsequent analysis. Simultaneously, denoising processing is performed on the 4D Flow MRI images to remove image noise interference, and registration is performed based on 3D TOF or MR Angio images to ensure spatial consistency between structural and functional images, eliminating the need for repeated scanning; S3, Structural Feature Extraction: Based on the preprocessed vascular template and skeleton, key vascular spatial configuration features are extracted, including vascular tortuosity, skeleton structural parameters (such as the number and length of skeleton branches), and angle histograms (such as the distribution of vascular bifurcation angles); S4, Functional Parameter Calculation: Hemodynamic analysis is performed on the registered 4D Flow MRI images to calculate core functional parameters such as flow velocity, flow rate, shear force, and reflux rate, comprehensively reflecting the blood flow state of the vessels; S5, Coupling Analysis: A correlation model between structural features and functional parameters is established, and the extracted vascular spatial configuration features are dynamically coupled with the calculated hemodynamic parameters for analysis. For example, for vascular regions with high tortuosity, the shear force parameters of the region are closely correlated. If the high tortuosity region is accompanied by low shear force, the risk of thrombosis after stent implantation can be predicted. S6. Results output: The coupling analysis results are presented in the form of an intuitive structure-function correlation map. At the same time, risk prediction indicators and clinical assessment suggestions are output to provide data support for the assessment of the condition of patients with cirrhosis and portal hypertension and the planning of TIPS surgery.

[0006] A system for coupled analysis of vascular structure and function based on multimodal MRI, corresponding to the methods described above, includes the following functional modules: Image acquisition module: used to acquire 3D TOF or MR Angio vascular structure images and 4D FlowMRI hemodynamic images of the target object, providing raw data for subsequent analysis; Preprocessing module: includes a binarization unit, a skeleton extraction unit, a denoising unit, and a registration unit, respectively realizing binarization processing of vascular structure images, skeleton extraction and dilation, denoising of functional images, and spatial registration of structure and functional images; Structural feature extraction module: specifically used to extract spatial configuration features such as vascular tortuosity, skeleton structural parameters, and angle histograms, providing structural dimension data for coupled analysis; Functional parameter calculation module: responsible for analyzing 4D FlowMRI... MRI images are used to calculate hemodynamic parameters such as flow velocity, flow rate, shear force, and reflux rate, providing data support for functional dimensions; the coupling analysis module has a built-in structure-function correlation model and disease correlation database, which realizes dynamic coupling analysis of structural features and functional parameters through model calculation, and generates risk prediction indicators by combining the correlation data in the database; the results output module is used to output the coupling analysis results in the form of structure-function correlation maps, risk prediction reports, clinical suggestions, etc., for easy viewing and use by medical staff.

[0007] Compared with existing technologies, this invention has the following beneficial effects: It achieves structure-function synergistic analysis: dynamically linking vascular spatial configuration features with hemodynamic parameters, it reveals for the first time the coupling mechanism of "morphology-blood flow," overcoming the limitations of traditional single-modal analysis. Automated registration improves efficiency and accuracy: based on 3D TOF or MR Angio images, it achieves automated spatial registration of structural and functional data, eliminating the need for manual matching, reducing errors while improving analysis efficiency, and eliminating the need for repeated scans, thus reducing the examination burden on patients. It has significant clinical value: it can provide vascular adaptability assessment for patients with cirrhosis and portal hypertension, clarify the relationship between collateral circulation formation and blood flow redistribution, provide accurate reference for TIPS surgical planning, and effectively predict postoperative complication risks, improving the safety and effectiveness of clinical diagnosis and treatment. Attached Figure Description

[0008] Figure 1 shows the result of the blood vessel refinement process of the present invention. The left side is the binarized blood vessel template, the right side is the blood vessel skeleton extracted using the Lee method, and the middle side is the skeleton after dilation (for easy observation). Figure 2 is the blood vessel skeleton index diagram of the present invention. The index value increases from dark to light colors, which is used to clarify the spatial distribution and correlation of the blood vessel skeleton. Figure 3 is the flowchart of the blood vessel structure and function coupling analysis method based on multimodal MRI of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0009] To make the technical means, creative features, objectives, and effects of this invention easier to understand, the invention is further described below in conjunction with specific embodiments. Examples

[0010] As shown in Figures 1-3, a method and system for coupling analysis of vascular structure and function based on multimodal MRI is described. The specific implementation steps are as follows: S1, Image acquisition: 3D TOF vascular structure images and 4D FlowMRI hemodynamic images of patients with liver cirrhosis are acquired using MRI equipment to ensure that the image clarity meets the analysis requirements; S2, Preprocessing: The 3D TOF images are binarized using image processing software to obtain a vascular template; the Lee algorithm is used to extract the vascular skeleton, and the skeleton is processed by the dilation algorithm to enhance the observation effect. The 4D Flow MRI images were denoised using Gaussian filtering, and then spatially aligned with the 3D TOF images using a mutual information-based registration algorithm. S3, Structural Feature Extraction: Image analysis algorithms were used to calculate vascular tortuosity (based on the ratio of actual vessel length to straight-line distance), the number and length of skeletal branches, and vessel bifurcation angles, generating angle histograms. S4, Functional Parameter Calculation: Using 4D Flow MRI analysis software, parameters such as flow velocity, flow rate, wall shear force, and reflux rate of the portal vein and collateral vessels were calculated. S5, Coupling Analysis: The extracted vascular tortuosity, bifurcation angles, and other structural features were input into a correlation model along with corresponding functional parameters such as flow velocity and shear force. If the tortuosity of a collateral vessel exceeded a preset threshold and the shear force in that region was below a critical value, a thrombosis risk warning was generated. S6, Result Output: A vascular structure-function correlation map of the patient was output, high-risk areas were marked, and a clinical report was generated, providing suggestions for optimizing the TIPS stent implantation location.

[0011] The foregoing has shown and described the basic principles, main features, and advantages of the present invention. Those skilled in the art should understand that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. The embodiments and descriptions in the specification are merely illustrative of the principles of the invention. Various changes and modifications can be made to the invention without departing from its spirit and scope, and all such changes and modifications fall within the scope of the present invention as claimed. The scope of protection of this invention is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A method for coupling analysis of vascular structure and function based on multimodal MRI, characterized in that: Includes the following steps: S1. Image Data Acquisition: Acquire multimodal MRI data of the target object, including 3D TOF or MR Angio vascular structure images and 4D Flow MRI hemodynamic images; S2. Preprocessing: Binarize the 3D TOF or MR Angio vascular structure images to obtain a vascular template. Extract the vascular skeleton from the vascular template using the Lee method and perform dilation processing. Simultaneously, perform noise reduction and registration preprocessing on the 4D Flow MRI hemodynamic images to ensure spatial consistency with the structure images; S3. Structural Feature Extraction: Based on the preprocessed vascular skeleton and vascular template, extract the spatial configuration features of the blood vessels, including vascular tortuosity, skeleton structural parameters, and angle histograms; S4. Functional Parameter Calculation: Calculate the functional parameters of the preprocessed 4D Flow MRI images... MRI hemodynamic images are analyzed to calculate hemodynamic parameters, including flow velocity, flow rate, shear force, and reflux rate; S5, Coupling analysis: A correlation model between structural features and functional parameters is established, and the extracted vascular spatial configuration features are dynamically coupled with the calculated hemodynamic parameters to reveal the coupling mechanism between the two; S6, Output results: The coupling analysis results are output, including structure-function correlation maps, risk prediction indicators, and clinical assessment recommendations.

2. The method for coupling analysis of vascular structure and function based on multimodal MRI according to claim 1, characterized in that: The registration preprocessing described in S2 uses 3D TOF or MR Angio vascular structure images as a reference, and achieves spatial alignment between 4D Flow MRI hemodynamic images and structural images through image registration algorithms, without the need for repeated scanning.

3. The method for coupling analysis of vascular structure and function based on multimodal MRI according to claim 1, characterized in that: The coupling analysis described in S5 includes: when a highly tortuous vascular region is detected, the shear force parameters of that region are correlated; if accompanied by low shear force, a thrombosis risk warning indicator after stent implantation is generated.

4. The method for coupling analysis of vascular structure and function based on multimodal MRI according to claim 1, characterized in that: The target population includes patients with cirrhosis and portal hypertension. The clinical assessment recommendations include adaptive assessment of collateral circulation formation and blood flow redistribution, and recommendations for optimizing TIPS surgical planning.

5. A system for coupled analysis of vascular structure and function based on multimodal MRI, characterized in that, The system includes an image acquisition module, a preprocessing module, a structural feature extraction module, a functional parameter calculation module, a coupling analysis module, and a result output module. The image acquisition module is used to acquire 3D TOF or MR Angio vascular structure images and 4D FlowMRI hemodynamic images of the target object. The preprocessing module is used to perform binarization, skeleton extraction, and dilation processing on the vascular structure images, and noise reduction and registration preprocessing on the hemodynamic images. The structural feature extraction module is used to extract spatial configuration features such as vascular tortuosity, skeleton structure parameters, and angle histograms. The functional parameter calculation module is used to calculate hemodynamic parameters such as flow velocity, flow rate, shear force, and reflux rate in 4D Flow MRI images; the coupling analysis module is used to establish a correlation model between structural features and functional parameters, perform dynamic coupling analysis, and generate risk prediction indicators; the result output module is used to output structure-function correlation maps, risk prediction indicators, and clinical assessment recommendations.

6. The vascular structure-function coupling analysis system based on multimodal MRI according to claim 5, characterized in that: The registration unit in the preprocessing module uses a spatial alignment algorithm based on the vascular skeleton to ensure spatial consistency between the structural image and the functional image.

7. The vascular structure-function coupling analysis system based on multimodal MRI according to claim 5, characterized in that: The coupling analysis module has a built-in disease association database, which stores the association data between different vascular structure-function combinations and disease complications, and is used to support the generation of risk prediction indicators.

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