Assessing interventional device size

Abstract

A system for assessing a dimension of a portion of an interventional device is provided. The system comprises one or more processors configured to: receive X-ray image data comprising a time sequence of images, the time sequence of images representing an interventional device (130) and a reference (140) having a predetermined dimension; identify, in the images in the time sequence, at least a portion of the interventional device (130) and the reference (140); and generate, for a current image in the time sequence, a first image representation (150) of the portion of the interventional device (130) and a second image representation (160) of the reference (140). The first image representation (150) and the second image representation (160) are displayed relative to each other (e.g. by displaying the image representations in a position very close to each other) for comparing the dimension of the portion of the interventional device (130) with the predetermined dimension of the reference (140).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to the dimensions of parts of an interventional device. Systems, imaging systems, computer-implemented methods, and computer program products are disclosed. Background Technology

[0002] During medical procedures involving interventional devices, time-series X-ray images are typically captured. For example, capturing live X-ray images in time series is used to navigate the interventional device to a target site within an anatomical structure or to perform a procedure at that site. During such medical procedures, it is often necessary to determine the dimensions of portions of the interventional device.

[0003] For example, balloon angioplasty is a vascular treatment procedure in which an interventional catheter is used to insert an inflatable balloon into a narrowed blood vessel. After being correctly positioned in the narrowed vessel, the inflatable balloon of the interventional catheter is typically inflated within a stent to open the lumen of the vessel and thus restore blood flow. During this procedure, it is useful to be able to verify that the balloon has inflated to the correct size. If the balloon is underinflated, blood flow may not be restored to the desired level. Insufficient balloon inflatation can also lead to complications such as restenosis and in-stent thrombosis.

[0004] The need to determine the dimensions of interventional devices also exists in other types of medical procedures. For example, plaque resection is a vascular treatment procedure that removes deposits from the inner surface of a blood vessel. During a plaque resection procedure, a mechanical plaque resection device can be used to scrape deposits from the inner surface of the blood vessel. The scraper element of a mechanical plaque resection device can be inserted into the blood vessel, expand to contact the inner surface of the vessel, and then translate and / or rotate in the expanded state to scrape deposits from the inner surface of the vessel. Similarly, being able to verify the expansion dimensions of the scraper element is useful for providing effective scraping of the inner surface of the blood vessel.

[0005] However, determining the size of such parts of interventional devices within a time series of X-ray images can be challenging. The size of balloons, scraper elements of mechanical plaque resection devices, and other parts of other types of interventional devices can be only on the order of a few millimeters. Due to their small size in the images, determining the size of such small interventional device features within a time series of X-ray images is challenging. Any movement of the interventional device during the time series (e.g., motion due to the beating of the heart) can further hinder the determination of the size of such small interventional device features.

[0006] Therefore, it is necessary to determine the dimensions of the interventional device within the time series of X-ray images. Summary of the Invention

[0007] According to one aspect of this disclosure, a system for evaluating the dimensions of portions of an interventional device is provided. The system includes one or more processors configured to: Receive X-ray image data, which includes a time series of images representing the interventional device and a reference object of predetermined size; Identify at least a portion of the interventional device and reference objects in time-series images; For the current image in the time series, generate a first image representation of the interventional device and a second image representation of the reference object; and The first and second image representations are displayed relatively close to each other so that the dimensions of the parts of the interventional device can be compared with the predetermined dimensions of the reference object.

[0008] Therefore, this system helps physicians compare and evaluate the dimensions of portions of the interventional device relative to the dimensions of a reference object. This comparison is easy for the user because the reference object has predetermined, known dimensions, which the physician is familiar with. Thus, because the portions of the interventional device are displayed relatively close to the reference object, the system facilitates the evaluation of their dimensions. Specifically, the objects can be displayed close enough to each other that the physician can directly and accurately compare the dimensions of the two objects, whose dimensions are predetermined, i.e., precisely known. Based on this visual comparison, the dimensions of portions of the interventional device can be determined with relatively high accuracy.

[0009] In some examples, displaying the first and second image representations in a position relatively close to each other includes showing portions of the interventional device and the reference object closer to each other than they would be in the time series of the images. For example, portions of the interventional device and the reference object can be shown in a position directly close to each other (e.g., in a side-by-side view or by overlaying the two image representations).

[0010] Other aspects, features, and advantages of this disclosure will become apparent from the following description of examples with reference to the accompanying drawings. Attached Figure Description

[0011] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a system 100 for evaluating the dimensions of portions of an interventional device according to some aspects of this disclosure.

[0012] Figure 2 This is a flowchart illustrating an example of a computer-implemented method for evaluating the dimensions of portions of an interventional device according to some aspects of this disclosure.

[0013] Figure 3This is an example of a time series 120 of images of the interventional device 130 and the reference object 140, representing some aspects of this disclosure.

[0014] Figure 4 This is an example of a first image representation 150 of a portion of an interventional device 130 and a second image representation 160 of a reference 140, according to some aspects of this disclosure, wherein the portion of the interventional device 130 and the reference 140 are shown to be relatively closer to each other than in the time sequence 120 of the images, for the purpose of comparing the size of the portion of the interventional device 130 with the size of the reference 140.

[0015] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a method for evaluating the dimensions of a portion of an interventional device according to some aspects of this disclosure.

[0016] Figure 6 This is an example of a first image representation 150 of an interventional device 130 and a second image representation 160 of a reference 140, based on some aspects of this disclosure, wherein the orientation of the interventional device 130 in the first image representation has been adjusted to correspond to the orientation of the reference 140 in the second image representation 160.

[0017] Figure 7 Examples of a first image representation 150 of an interventional device 130 and a second image representation 160 of a reference 140, which includes a reference scale 190, are provided in accordance with some aspects of this disclosure. Detailed Implementation

[0018] Examples of this disclosure are provided with reference to the following description and accompanying drawings. In this specification, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details of certain examples are set forth. References to “example,” “implementation,” or similar language in the specification mean that a feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the example is included in at least one example. It should also be understood that features described with respect to an example may also be used in another example, and for the sake of brevity, not all features need to be repeated in each example. For example, features described with respect to a system may be implemented in a corresponding manner in a computer-implemented method and a computer program product.

[0019] In the following description, examples of systems and methods for facilitating the assessment of the dimensions of portions of an interventional device are referenced. In some examples, the interventional device is an interventional catheter, and the determined dimension is the diameter / width of the balloon of the interventional catheter. In some examples, reference is made to the assessment of the diameter / width of the balloon of the interventional catheter facilitated by showing the balloon of the interventional catheter and a reference, wherein the reference is an injection catheter. However, it should be understood that the interventional catheter, balloon, injection catheter, and diameter / width are merely examples. Thus, the interventional device may optionally be another interventional device besides an interventional catheter, a portion of the interventional device may alternatively be another part of the interventional device besides a balloon, a reference may alternatively be another reference besides an injection catheter, and the dimension being assessed may be another dimension besides diameter / width. By some further examples, the interventional device may be a mechanical plaque resection device, the injection catheter may alternatively be another type of catheter, and a portion of the interventional device may be an inflatable portion of the interventional device or the distal end of the interventional device. Thus, in some examples, the interventional device is an endovascular interventional device. In some examples, the reference is an endovascular reference.

[0020] It should be noted that the computer-implemented methods disclosed herein can be provided as a non-transient computer-readable storage medium including computer-readable instructions stored thereon, which, when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to perform the method. In other words, the computer-implemented methods can be implemented in a computer program product. The computer program product can be provided by dedicated hardware or hardware capable of running software in association with appropriate software. When provided by a processor, the functionality of the method features can be provided by a single dedicated processor, or by a single shared processor, or by multiple separate processors, some of which can be shared. The functionality of one or more method features can be provided, for example, by processors shared within a networked processing architecture (e.g., client / server architecture, peer-to-peer architecture, the Internet, or the cloud).

[0021] The explicit use of the terms "processor" or "controller" should not be construed as exclusively referring to hardware capable of running software, and may implicitly include, but is not limited to, digital signal processor (DSP) hardware, read-only memory (ROM) for storing software, random access memory (RAM), non-volatile storage devices, etc. Furthermore, examples of this disclosure may take the form of a computer program product accessible from a computer-usable storage medium or a computer-readable storage medium, which provides program code for use by or in connection with a computer or any instruction execution system. For the purposes of this specification, a computer-usable storage medium or a computer-readable storage medium can be any means capable of including, storing, communicating, propagating, or transmitting a program for use by or in connection with an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device. The medium may be an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system or device or a propagation medium. Examples of computer-readable media include semiconductor or solid-state memory, magnetic tape, removable computer disks, random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), hard disks, and optical disks. Current examples of optical discs include CD-ROM, CD-R / W, Blu-ray™, and DVD.

[0022] It should also be noted that some operations described as being performed by one or more processors of the system disclosed herein can be implemented using artificial intelligence techniques. Suitable techniques may include machine learning techniques as well as deep learning techniques (such as neural networks). For example, one or more neural networks may be trained in a supervised manner or, in some cases, in an unsupervised manner to implement operations performed by one or more processors.

[0023] As mentioned above, it is necessary to determine the dimensions of the interventional device within the time series of X-ray images.

[0024] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a system 100 for evaluating the dimensions of portions of an interventional device according to some aspects of this disclosure. Figure 2 This is a flowchart illustrating an example of a computer-implemented method for evaluating the dimensions of portions of an interventional device according to some aspects of this disclosure. It should be noted that the description is made by... Figure 1 The operations performed by one or more processors 110 of the illustrated system 100 can also be performed in Figure 2 Execute the method shown in the diagram. Similarly, regarding the reference... Figure 2 The operation described by the method can also be... Figure 1 One or more processors 110 of the illustrated system 100 execute. (Reference) Figure 1 and Figure 2The system 100 for evaluating the dimensions of portions of an interventional device includes one or more processors 110, which are configured to: Receive S110 X-ray image data, which includes a time series 120 of the image, representing the interventional device 130 and a reference object 140 with a predetermined size; Identify at least a portion of the S120 interventional device 130 and a reference object 140 in images from a time series; For the current image 120' in the time series, a first image representation 150 of the intervention device 130 and a second image representation 160 of the reference object 140 are generated; and The first image representation 150 and the second image representation 160 are displayed in a position relatively close to each other so that the dimensions of a portion of the interventional device 130 can be compared with the predetermined dimensions of the reference object 140.

[0025] Therefore, this system facilitates comparative evaluation of the dimensions of portions of the interventional device relative to the known dimensions of a reference object. This comparison is easily performed by the user, and thus the system helps evaluate the dimensions of portions of the interventional device while overcoming the disadvantage of the small size of these portions in the image. For example, the system displays a first image representation and a second image representation, such that the portions of the interventional device and the reference object are displayed as being relatively closer to each other than they appear in the time series of the images.

[0026] The operations performed by one or more processors of system 100 are described in more detail below.

[0027] In operation S110, X-ray image data is received. The X-ray image data includes a time series 120 representing images of the interventional device 130 and the reference object 140.

[0028] The X-ray image data received in operation S110 can be generated by various types of X-ray imaging systems. These include projection X-ray imaging systems, computed tomography (CT) imaging systems, spectral X-ray projection imaging systems, and spectral CT imaging systems. Spectral X-ray projection imaging systems and spectral CT imaging systems generate X-ray attenuation data representing X-ray attenuation within multiple different energy intervals. This is in contrast to conventional projection X-ray imaging systems and conventional CT imaging systems, which generate X-ray attenuation data representing X-ray attenuation within a single energy interval. The X-ray attenuation data generated by such a spectral imaging system can be processed (e.g., by using various material decomposition algorithms) to distinguish media that have similar X-ray attenuation values ​​when measured within a single energy interval and cannot be distinguished in the X-ray attenuation data obtained using a conventional projection X-ray imaging system or a conventional CT imaging system. Therefore, the X-ray attenuation data generated by a spectral X-ray projection imaging system or a spectral CT imaging system can be used to provide images with improved specificity for materials such as tissues and bones.

[0029] Referring again to operation S110, the X-ray image data received in operation S110 can be received from various sources, including from a medical imaging system (such as the imaging system described above) or from another source (such as a computer-readable storage medium, the Internet, the cloud, etc.). The angiography image sequence 120 can be received via any form of data communication, including wired and wireless communication. By way of examples, when using wired communication, communication can be conducted via cable or fiber optic cable, and when using wireless communication, communication can be conducted, for example, via RF or infrared signals.

[0030] Continuing with reference operation S110, the time series of the image 120 represents the interventional device 130 and the reference object 140. Figure 3 This is an example of a time series 120 of images representing the interventional device 130 and the reference object 140, according to some aspects of this disclosure. Figure 3 In the illustrated example, interventional device 130 is an interventional catheter, and reference 140 is an injection catheter. Figure 3 In this context, the interventional catheter includes a balloon located at the distal end of the catheter. The interventional catheter is used to introduce the balloon into the vascular system.

[0031] exist Figure 3In the illustrated example, a balloon can be navigated along the interventional catheter to a target site within a narrowed blood vessel and then inflated to open the lumen of the vessel and thereby restore blood flow. During this procedure, an injection catheter 130 can be used to intermittently inject contrast agent into the vascular system to provide visibility of the vessel in the images. Interventional catheters tend to be relatively rigid compared to injection catheters. The visibility of the vessel provided by contrast agent injection helps physicians perform tasks such as navigating the balloon to the target site. For example, the contrast agent can be injected using a contrast agent injector (often simply referred to as a syringe), such as... Figure 1 The syringe 220 is illustrated. During this procedure, it is useful to verify that the balloon has inflated to the correct size. However, from... Figure 3 As can be understood from the time series of images 120 shown, the balloon of the interventional catheter has a small diameter / width in the images. Therefore, it may be difficult to accurately measure the diameter / width of the balloon.

[0032] Now, referring to the above text and combining it... Figure 1 and Figure 2 The aforementioned operation S120 involves identifying at least a portion of the interventional device 130 and a reference object 140 in images within a time series. Therefore, the reference... Figure 3 In the example described, in this operation, at least the balloon and the injection catheter are identified in images within a time series. Other components of the interventional device may also be identified in this operation. For example, if the identified portion of the interventional device is the balloon of the interventional catheter, then one or more other components of the interventional catheter(s), such as the distal end of the interventional catheter, may also be identified.

[0033] Various techniques can be used to perform operation S120. For example, one technique involves using an artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm trained to identify associated regions in images in a time series. An example of such an AI algorithm is disclosed in the paper "A review of Yolo algorithm developments" by Jiang, P. et al. (Procedia Computer Science, Vol. 199, 2022, pp. 1066-1073). Another technique involves using segmentation to identify these features in images in a time series. An example of such a segmentation technique is in the paper "U-Net: Convolutional Networks for Biomedical Image Segmentation" by Roneberger, O. et al. (in Medical Image Computing and Computer-Assisted Intervention – MICCAI 2015, MICCAI 2015, Lectures in Computer Science, Vol. 9351, edited by Navab, N., Hornegger, J., Wells, W., and Frangi, A.). It should be noted that neither technique requires precise depiction of at least a portion of the interventional device 130 or the reference object 140, because the objective of operation S120 is merely to identify the respective devices and their locations, rather than to provide absolute measurements of their dimensions.

[0034] exist Figure 5 The diagram also illustrates the operation of identifying at least a portion of the S120 interventional device 130 and the reference object 140 in images within a time series. Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a method for evaluating the dimensions of a portion of an interventional device according to some aspects of this disclosure. In the case where a portion of the interventional device 130 is a balloon of an interventional catheter and reference 140 is an injection catheter, Figure 5 Operations S110 and S120 in the diagram correspond to those in the reference above. Figure 1 and Figure 2 The aforementioned operation. Figure 5 In Figure 5 The central portion illustrates operation S120 of identifying at least a portion of the interventional device 130 and the reference 140; namely, "identifying the injection catheter" and "identifying the balloon".

[0035] Now, referring to the above text and combining it... Figure 1 and Figure 2The aforementioned operation S130 involves generating a first image representation 150 of a portion of the interventional device 130 for the current image 120' in the time series, and generating a second image representation 160 of the reference object 140.

[0036] Image representations can be generated in various ways. In one example, one or more processors 110 are configured to define a first region of interest 170 surrounding a portion of interventional device 130 and / or a second region of interest 180 surrounding reference 140 in images in a time series. In this example, the extent of a first image representation 150 corresponds to the first region of interest 170 and / or the extent of a second image representation 160 corresponds to the second region of interest 180, respectively. Regions of interest can be defined in various ways, for example by cropping them into fixed shapes centered at points defined on the portion of interventional device 130 and points defined on reference 140, respectively. For example, the point could be the distal end of the portion of interventional device 130 and the distal end of reference 140.

[0037] exist Figure 5 The central portion illustrates the generation of a first image representation 150 and a second image representation 160 based on this example (i.e., by defining such a region of interest). Therefore, in Figure 5 In the central portion, after identifying the injection catheter and balloon, the upper and lower branches illustrate the identification of the first region of interest 170 and the second region of interest in the current image 120'. Figure 5 The first image, represented by the upper right and lower right illustrations, is 150, and the second image, represented by 160, is 160. Figure 4 Examples of these image representations are also illustrated in the text. Figure 4 This is an example of a first image representation 150 of a portion of an interventional device 130 and a second image representation 160 of a reference 140, according to some aspects of this disclosure, wherein the portion of the interventional device 130 and the reference 140 are shown to be relatively closer to each other than in the time series 120 of the images, so that the size of the portion of the interventional device 130 can be compared with the known size of the reference 140.

[0038] Now, referring to the above text and combining it... Figure 1 and Figure 2 The aforementioned operation S140 involves displaying the first image representation 150 and the second image representation 160 relative to each other, or comparing the dimensions of a portion of the interventional device 130 with the dimensions of the reference object 140. For example, as... Figure 4 As shown, portions of the interventional device 130 and the reference object 140 are displayed in positions relatively close to each other, closer to each other than in the original image time series 120.

[0039] The first image representation 150 and the second image representation 160 can be continuously updated for successive current images in a time series. This provides a real-time comparison of the dimensions of portions of the interventional device 130 with the dimensions of the reference object 140.

[0040] Exemplary arrangements of image representations of portions of the interventional device and reference objects include displaying portions of the interventional device and reference objects adjacent to or side-by-side with each other. For example, it can be seen that... Figure 4 As observed, displaying the first image representation 150 and the second image representation 160 in this manner facilitates comparison of the dimensions of a portion of the interventional device 130 with the dimensions of the reference object 140. Generally, dimensions can refer to any dimension of the portion of the interventional device 130 and the reference object 140, including, for example, diameter, width, length, or other dimensions. Such a comparison would be difficult to make in the time series of images 120 because the portion of the interventional device 130 and the reference object 140 have relatively large intervals.

[0041] Furthermore, this paper can envision other arrangements of relative image representation that facilitate size comparisons between objects, including but not limited to superimposing a reference object or a schematic diagram of the reference object on a portion of the interventional device, or vice versa.

[0042] Operation S140 is also schematically illustrated in Figure 5 The central right portion. Here, the parts of the interventional device and the reference are also shown closer to each other than they are in the time series 120 of the image, in order to facilitate a comparison of their dimensions.

[0043] Instead of the above reference Figure 4 and Figure 5 The method of generating a first image representation 150 of the interventional device 130 and a second image representation 160 of the reference 140 by defining regions of interest surrounding each of the interventional device 130 and the reference 140 can alternatively generate the first image representation 150 and the second image representation 160 in other ways. For example, a single region of interest including the portion of the interventional device 130 or the reference 140 can be defined in the images in a time series. This region of interest can then be cropped using the techniques described above, and then superimposed onto the current image 120' at a position relatively closer to the other of the interventional device 130 and the reference 140, such that the portion of the interventional device and the reference are displayed relatively closer to each other than in the time series of the images, for the purpose of comparing the size of the portion of the interventional device 130 with the size of the reference 140.

[0044] Therefore, refer to Figure 3Because System 100 displays a first image representation and a second image representation, making the balloon and injection catheter appear relatively closer to each other in the time series of images, the system helps physicians to compare and evaluate the size of the balloon relative to the size of the injection catheter. This comparison is easy for the user because the reference object has a predetermined size familiar to the physician. For example, the diameter of the injection catheter could be a known 2 mm. Therefore, the system helps to evaluate the size of the balloon displayed relatively close to the injection catheter used as a reference. Simultaneously, as will be described with reference to certain examples herein, the disadvantage of small object size in the image can be overcome by applying a common magnification factor to the image representation.

[0045] As mentioned above, other types of interventional devices and other types of objects can also be used alternatively as interventional devices and reference objects, respectively. For example, the interventional device can be a mechanical plaque resection device, and the reference object can generally be any object whose dimensions are known to the physician. The reference object can have dimensions similar to a portion of the interventional device. Both the interventional device and the reference object can be located at the same depth relative to the X-ray source of the X-ray imaging system that generates the time series of images.

[0046] As mentioned above, another factor that may prevent the determination of the size of interventional device features in a time series of X-ray images is the movement of the interventional device during the time series. For example, in Figure 3 In the example shown, during the time series 120 of the images, the beating of the heart can cause significant movement of the balloon of the interventional catheter 130. This disclosure provides various techniques to aid in the dimensional assessment of portions of the interventional device in the presence of such cardiac motion and other sources of motion.

[0047] In one example, one or more processors 110 are configured to generate a first image representation 150 for the current image 120' in the time series by the following operations: Map a portion of the interventional device 130 in the current image 120' of the time series to the location of a portion of the interventional device in the first image representation 150 generated for an earlier image in the time series.

[0048] The effect of this mapping is to reduce the motion of parts of the interventional device in the first image representation, or in other words, to stabilize the motion of the interventional device. (Reference) Figure 4 The illustrated example shows how this mapping stabilizes the movement of the balloon. This, in turn, helps to more accurately compare the size of the balloon with the size of the injection catheter. Figure 5 China passed Figure 5 The lower mapping (stabilization) label within the dashed box in the center illustrates the mapping operation.

[0049] The mapping performed in this example can be performed using various techniques, including, for example, mapping the location of features (e.g., centroid or distal end) of a portion of the interventional device 130 in the current image 120' of the time series to the location of features in a first image representation 150 generated for an earlier image in the time series.

[0050] In one example, the operation of mapping a portion of interventional device 130 in the current image 120' of the time series to the location of a portion of interventional device in the first image representation 150 generated for an earlier image in the time series includes rigidly registering a portion of interventional device 130 in the current image 120' of the time series to a portion of interventional device 130 in the first image representation 150 generated for an earlier image in the time series.

[0051] The rigid registration provided by this example reduces the amount of motion of parts of the interventional device between successive images. It also helps to accurately represent the shape and size of parts of the interventional device in the live sequence within the first image representation 150. This is useful, for example, when evaluating balloon size, as the size and shape of the balloon change during its inflation.

[0052] In another example, a similar mapping operation is performed on a reference object to provide a second image representation 160. Therefore, in one example, one or more processors 110 are configured to generate the second image representation 160 (S130) for the current image 120' in the time series by: The reference 140 in the current image of the time series is mapped to the position of the reference in the second image representation 160 generated for an earlier image in the time series.

[0053] The effect of this mapping is to reduce the motion of the reference object in the second image representation, or in other words, to stabilize the motion of the reference object. Figure 5 China passed Figure 5 The upper mapping (stabilization) label within the central dashed box illustrates this mapping operation.

[0054] In a relevant example, the operation of mapping a reference 140 in the current image 120' of the time series to the position of a reference in the second image representation 160 generated for an earlier image in the time series includes rigidly registering the reference in the current image 120' of the time series to the reference in the second image representation 160 generated for an earlier image in the time series.

[0055] These mapping operations provide similar benefits to mapping of reference points for stability as mapping of portions of the interventional device. However, it should be noted that in some cases, their impact on assessing the size of portions of the interventional device may be relatively low. For example, if the reference point is located in a relatively more stable portion of the anatomy, the benefit of performing mapping on the reference point may be relatively low. For instance, in the case of coronary angioplasty to treat stenosis in the coronary arteries, contrast agent is typically injected using an injection catheter located in the aortic arch, while the balloon is located in the coronary artery. The movement of the injection catheter in this location is generally relatively smaller than the movement of the balloon in the coronary artery. Therefore, in this case, the benefit of performing mapping on the balloon is relatively small compared to that of the injection catheter.

[0056] In another example, one or more processors 110 are configured to magnify each of the first image representation 150 and the second image representation 160 with the same magnification factor.

[0057] The magnification provided by this example facilitates easier comparison of the dimensions of parts of the interventional device with those of a reference object. Figure 5 China passed Figure 5 The common zoom label on the right illustrates this zoom operation. For example, a zoom level can be selected to fit the larger of the first region of interest 170 and the second region of interest 180 on the display.

[0058] In a related example, one or more processors 110 are configured to adapt the magnification factor based on the size of a portion of the interventional device 130 in a first image representation 150 or based on the size of a reference object 140 in a second image representation 160 throughout the time series.

[0059] In another related example, one or more processors 110 are configured to smooth the adaptation of the amplification factor over time.

[0060] This adaptation aims to prevent sudden changes in the dimensions of the interventional device and the reference object over time. When calculating the magnification factor, the magnification factor can be adapted by applying a filter to the dimensions of the interventional device 130 portion in the first image representation 150 or the dimensions of the reference object 140 in the second image representation 160. The filter can be, for example, a Gaussian filter or a Kalman filter.

[0061] In another example, one or more processors 110 are configured to adjust the orientation of the first image representation 150 and / or the second image representation 160 such that the orientation of the interventional device 130 in the first image representation corresponds to the orientation of the reference object 140 in the second image representation 160.

[0062] Figure 6This is an example of a first image representation 150 of an interventional device 130 and a second image representation 160 of a reference 140, based on some aspects of this disclosure, wherein the orientation of the interventional device 130 in the first image representation has been adjusted to correspond to the orientation of the reference 140 in the second image representation 160. Figure 6 It is understood that adjusting the orientation according to this example makes it easier to compare the dimensions of a portion of the interventional device 130 with the dimensions of the reference object 140. The orientation adjusted to correspond can be, for example, the orientation of the longitudinal axis of a portion of the interventional device 130 and the orientation of the longitudinal axis of the reference object 140. These orientations can be determined and adjusted using image processing techniques.

[0063] In another example, one or more processors 110 are configured to display a third image representation that includes a second reference. The third image representation and the first image representation 150 are displayed such that portions of the interventional device and the second reference are displayed closer to each other than they are in the time series 120 of the images, for comparing the size of a portion of the interventional device 130 with the size of the second reference.

[0064] In this example, a second reference is shown. The second reference can be shown in a similar manner to the first reference, for example, by defining a region of interest around the second reference in the images of the time series, and displaying the first image (representing 150) side-by-side (i.e., adjacent). Displaying the second reference in this way provides another reference dimension for evaluating the size of portions of the interventional device.

[0065] The second reference object can typically be any object whose dimensions are known to the physician. The second reference object can have dimensions similar to a portion of the interventional device. Both the interventional device and the second reference object can be located at the same depth relative to the X-ray source of the X-ray imaging system that generates the time series of images. The second reference object can be a different object from the reference object. For example, the second reference object can be a probe, pacemaker, guidewire, etc.

[0066] In another example, one or more processors 110 are configured to display a reference scale 190 in a first image representation 150 and a second image representation 160.

[0067] exist Figure 7 The image in the middle shows this example. Figure 7 Examples of a first image representation 150 of an interventional device 130 according to some aspects of this disclosure and a second image representation 160 including a reference scale 190. Figure 7The diagram illustrates that a reference scale can be displayed as a grid. A reference scale simplifies the evaluation of comparing the dimensions of a portion of the interventional device with the dimensions of a reference object. The intervals in the reference scale can be derived from the dimensions of the interventional device portion. For example, the periodicity of the grid can be defined as a multiple or fraction of the diameter / width of the interventional device portion.

[0068] In another example, one or more processors 110 are configured to freeze the display of a first image representation 150 and / or a second image representation 160. Freezing either of these image representations simplifies the evaluation of comparisons between the dimensions of a portion of the interventional device and the dimensions of a reference, as the freeze eliminates motion of the image representation. In one example, the display dimensions of the first image representation 150 are frozen, while the second image representation 160 is continuously updated for subsequent current images in a time series. This eliminates motion of the reference (whose dimensions are not expected to change) while providing continuous updates to the dimensions of portions of the interventional device. This example could be useful, for example, in balloon angioplasty procedures, where the dimensions of a reference catheter do not change over time, while the dimensions of the balloon change during its inflation.

[0069] It should be noted that the system 100 described above may also include additional features related to operations performed by one or more processors 110. For example, the system 100 may include one or more of the following: an X-ray imaging system for generating X-ray image data, such as... Figure 1 The projection X-ray imaging system 210 shown; a syringe 220 for injecting contrast agent into the vascular system of the subject; a monitor 230 for displaying a time series of images 120, a first image representation 150 and a second image representation 160, and other outputs provided by one or more processors 110; a hospital bed 240; and a user input device configured to receive user input (not shown in the diagram). Figure 1 (See illustrations), such as keyboard, mouse, touchscreen, etc.

[0070] In another example, an imaging system 210 is provided for evaluating the dimensions of portions of an interventional device. The imaging system includes one or more processors 110, which are configured to: Receive S110 X-ray image data, which includes a time series 120 of the image, representing the interventional device 130 and a reference object 140 with a predetermined size; Identify at least a portion of the S120 interventional device 130 and a reference object 140 in images from a time series; For the current image 120' in the time series, a first image representation 150 of the intervention device 130 and a second image representation 160 of the reference object 140 are generated; and The first image representation 150 and the second image representation 160 are displayed in a position relatively close to each other so that the dimensions of a portion of the interventional device 130 can be compared with the predetermined dimensions of the reference object 140.

[0071] In another example, a computer-implemented method for evaluating the dimensions of portions of an interventional device is provided. This method includes: Receive S110 X-ray image data, which includes a time series 120 of the image, representing the interventional device 130 and a reference object 140 with a predetermined size; Identify at least a portion of the S120 interventional device 130 and a reference object 140 in images from a time series; For the current image 120' in the time series, a first image representation 150 of the intervention device 130 and a second image representation 160 of the reference object 140 are generated; and Display S140 first image representation 150 and second image representation 160, such that portions of the interventional device and the reference are displayed closer to each other than in the time sequence 120 of the images, so that the dimensions of portions of the interventional device 130 can be compared with predetermined dimensions of the reference 140.

[0072] In another example, a computer program product is provided. The computer program product includes instructions that, when executed by one or more processors 110, cause the one or more processors to perform a method for evaluating the dimensions of a portion of an interventional device. The method includes: Receive S110 X-ray image data, which includes a time series 120 of the image, representing the interventional device 130 and a reference object 140 with a predetermined size; Identify at least a portion of the S120 interventional device 130 and a reference object 140 in images from a time series; For the current image 120' in the time series, a first image representation 150 of the intervention device 130 and a second image representation 160 of the reference object 140 are generated; and Display S140 first image representation 150 and second image representation 160, such that portions of the interventional device and the reference are displayed closer to each other than in the time sequence 120 of the images, so that the dimensions of portions of the interventional device 130 can be compared with predetermined dimensions of the reference 140.

[0073] The examples above should be understood as illustrative rather than limiting of this disclosure. Other examples are also contemplated. For instance, the examples described with respect to the system may also be provided in a corresponding manner by a computer-implemented method, a computer program product, or a computer-readable storage medium. It should be understood that features described with respect to any example may be used alone or in combination with other described features, and may be used in combination with one or more features of another example, or in combination with other examples. Furthermore, equivalents and modifications not described above may be employed without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. In the claims, the word "comprising" does not exclude other elements or operations, and the quantifiers "a" or "an" do not exclude a plurality. The mere fact that certain features are recited in dissimilar dependent claims does not indicate that combinations of these features cannot be advantageously used. No reference numerals in the claims should be construed as limiting their scope.

Claims

1. A system (100) for evaluating the dimensions of portions of an interventional device, the system comprising one or more processors (110) configured to: Receive (S110) X-ray image data, the X-ray image data including a time series of images (120), the time series of images representing the interventional device (130) and a reference object (140) with a predetermined size. Identify (S120) at least the portion of the interventional device (130) and the reference object (140) in the images in the time series. For the current image (120') in the time series, generate (S130) a first image representation (150) of the portion of the interventional device (130) and a second image representation (160) of the reference object (140); and The first image representation (150) and the second image representation (160) are displayed (S140) in a position relatively close to each other so that the size of the portion of the interventional device (130) can be compared with the predetermined size of the reference object (140).

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein, The first image representation and the second image representation are displayed such that the portion of the interventional device is closer to the reference object than it is in the time series (120) of the images.

3. The system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The one or more processors (110) are further configured to define a first region of interest (170) surrounding the portion of the interventional device (130) and / or a second region of interest (180) surrounding the reference object (140) in the images of the time series; and Specifically, the range of the first image representation (150) corresponds to the first region of interest (170) and / or the range of the second image representation (160) corresponds to the second region of interest (180).

4. The system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein, The one or more processors (110) are configured to generate (S130) the first image representation (150) for the current image (120') in the time series by the following operations: The portion of the interventional device (130) in the current image (120') of the time series is mapped to the position of the portion of the interventional device in the first image representation (150) generated for an earlier image in the time series.

5. The system according to claim 4, wherein, Mapping the portion of the interventional device (130) includes rigidly registering the portion of the interventional device (130) in the current image (120') of the time series to the portion of the interventional device (130) in the first image representation (150) generated for the earlier image in the time series.

6. The system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein, The one or more processors (110) are configured to generate (S130) the second image representation (160) for the current image (120') in the time series by the following operations: The reference object (140) in the current image of the time series is mapped to the position of the reference object in the second image representation (160) generated for an earlier image in the time series.

7. The system according to claim 6, wherein, Mapping the reference (140) includes rigidly registering the reference in the current image (120') of the time series to the reference in the second image representation (160) generated for the earlier image in the time series.

8. The system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein, The one or more processors (110) are also configured to magnify each of the first image representation (150) and the second image representation (160) by the same magnification factor.

9. The system according to claim 8, wherein, The one or more processors (110) are also configured to adapt the magnification factor based on the size of the portion of the interventional device (130) in the first image representation (150) or based on the size of the reference object (140) in the second image representation (160) throughout the time series.

10. The system according to claim 9, wherein, The one or more processors (110) are also configured to smooth the adaptation of the amplification factor over time.

11. The system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein, The one or more processors (110) are further configured to adjust the orientation of the first image representation (150) and / or the second image representation (160) such that the orientation of the interventional device (130) in the first image representation corresponds to the orientation of the reference object (140) in the second image representation (160).

12. The system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein, The one or more processors (110) are also configured to display a reference ruler (190) in the first image representation (150) and the second image representation (160).

13. The system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein, The one or more processors (110) are also configured to freeze the display of the first image representation (150) and / or the second image representation (160).

14. A computer-implemented method for evaluating the dimensions of a portion of an interventional device, the method comprising: Receive (S110) X-ray image data, the X-ray image data including a time series of images (120), the time series of images representing the interventional device (130) and a reference object (140) with a predetermined size. Identify (S120) at least the portion of the interventional device (130) and the reference object (140) in the images in the time series. For the current image (120') in the time series, generate (S130) a first image representation (150) of the portion of the interventional device (130) and a second image representation (160) of the reference object (140); and The first image representation (150) and the second image representation (160) are displayed (S140) in a position relatively close to each other so that the size of the portion of the interventional device (130) can be compared with the predetermined size of the reference object (140).

15. A computer program product comprising instructions that, when executed by one or more processors (110), cause the one or more processors to perform the method according to claim 14.

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