225 results about "Vascular network" patented technology

Embodiments of the present invention include methods and systems for three-dimensional reconstruction of a tubular organ (for example, coronary artery) using a plurality of two-dimensional images. Some of the embodiments may include displaying a first image of a vascular network, receiving input for identifying on the first image a vessel of interest, tracing the edges of the vessel of interest including eliminating false edges of objects visually adjacent to the vessel of interest, determining substantially precise radius and densitometry values along the vessel, displaying at least a second image of the vascular network, receiving input for identifying on the second image the vessel of interest, tracing the edges of the vessel of interest in the second image, including eliminating false edges of objects visually adjacent to the vessel of interest, determining substantially precise radius and densitometry values along the vessel in the second image, determining a three dimensional reconstruction of the vessel of interest and determining fused area (cross-section) measurements along the vessel and computing and presenting quantitative measurements, including, but not limited to, true length, percent narrowing (diameter and area), and the like.

Computational methods are used to create cardiovascular simulations having desired hemodynamic features. Cardiovascular modeling methods produce descriptions of blood flow and pressure in the heart and vascular networks. Numerical methods optimize and solve nonlinear equations to find parameter values that result in desired hemodynamic characteristics including related flow and pressure at various locations in the cardiovascular system, movements of soft tissues, and changes for different physiological states. The modeling methods employ simplified models to approximate the behavior of more complex models with the goal of to reducing computational expense. The user describes the desired features of the final cardiovascular simulation and provides minimal input, and the system automates the search for the final patient-specific cardiovascular model.

Methods of modeling anatomical structures, along with pathology including the vasculature, spine and internal organs, for visualization and manipulation in simulation systems. A representation of on the human vascular network is built up from medical images and a geometrical model produced therefrom by extracting topological and geometrical information. The model is constructed using topological and geometrical information. The model is constructed using segments containing topology structure information, flow domain information contour domain information and skeletal domain information. A realistic surface is then applied to the geometric model, by generating a trajectory along a central axis of the geometric model, conducting moving trihedron modeling along the generated trajectory and then creating a sweeping surface along the trajectory. A novel joint reconstruction approach is also proposed whereby a part surface sweeping operation is performed across branches of the joint and then a surface created over the resultatn holes therebetween. A 3-D mesh may also be generated, based upon this model, for finite element analysis and pathology creation.

Multifunctional guidewire assemblies and system for analyzing anatomical and functional parameters are described. Using a single guidewire assembly, functional and anatomical measurements and identification of lesions may be made. Functional measurements such as pressure may be obtained with a pressure sensor on the guidewire while anatomical measurements such as luminal dimensions may be obtained by utilizing an electrode assembly along the guidewire. The vascular network and stenosed lesions may be modeled into an equivalent electrical network and solved based on the measured parameters to obtain unknown parameters of the electrical network. Several treatment plan options may be constructed where each plan may correspond to the treatment of a subset of particular lesions. The anatomical outcome for each of the treatment plans may be estimated and the equivalent modified electrical parameters may be determined. Then, each of the electrical networks for each plan may be solved to determine the functional outcome for each treatment plan and the outcomes for all treatment plans may be presented to a physician.

Computational methods are used to create cardiovascular simulations having desired hemodynamic features. Cardiovascular modeling methods produce descriptions of blood flow and pressure in the heart and vascular networks. Numerical methods optimize and solve nonlinear equations to find parameter values that result in desired hemodynamic characteristics including related flow and pressure at various locations in the cardiovascular system, movements of soft tissues, and changes for different physiological states. The modeling methods employ simplified models to approximate the behavior of more complex models with the goal of to reducing computational expense. The user describes the desired features of the final cardiovascular simulation and provides minimal input, and the system automates the search for the final patient-specific cardiovascular model.

An artificial tissue including an internal mass transport network having a plurality of channels, wherein the channels are designed to substantially mimic naturally occurring vascular network and a method for creating an internal transport system within a tissue scaffold to improve circulation, diffusion, and mass transport properties by utilizing computer-aided tissue engineering (CATE). The artificial tissue has the internal mass transport network of channels embedded, deposited, or molded within a scaffold, wherein the channels are made from a biodegradable transporting material and the scaffold is made from a scaffold material. The artificial tissue of the invention includes a basic circulatory system embedded within the tissue scaffold. This system provides mass transport throughout the entire scaffold and degrades after the new circulatory system develops.

In an aspect, the present invention uses projection micro stereolithography to generate three-dimensional microvessel networks that are capable of supporting and fostering growth of a cell population. For example, provided is a method of making a microvascularized bioreactor via layer-by-layer polymerization of a photocurable liquid composition with repeated patterns of illumination, wherein each layer corresponds to a layer of the desired microvessel network. The plurality of layers are assembled to make a microvascular network. Support structures having different etch rates than the structures that make up the network provides access to manufacturing arbitrary geometries that cannot be made by conventional methods. A cell population is introduced to the external wall of the network to obtain a microvascularized bioreactor. Provided are various methods and related bioreactors, wherein the network wall has a permeability to a biological material that varies within and along the network.

A system for dosing one or more fluids on a substrate, the system comprising a rotating roll. The rotating roll has a central longitudinal axis, wherein the rotating roll rotates about the central longitudinal axis; an exterior surface defining an interior region and substantially surrounding the central longitudinal axis; and a vascular network configured for transporting the one or more fluids in a predetermined path from the interior region to the exterior surface of the rotating roll.

A method for delivering a High Internal Phase Emulsion to a substrate. The method includes providing a rotating roll, The rotating roll has a central longitudinal axis, wherein the rotating roll rotates about the central longitudinal axis, an exterior surface defining an interior region and substantially surrounding the central longitudinal axis, and a vascular network configured for transporting the one or more fluids in a predetermined path from the interior region to the exterior surface of the rotating roll. The method further includes providing a High Internal Phase Emulsion to the rotating roll vascular network. The method further includes contacting a substrate with the rotating roll and contacting the substrate with the High Internal Phase Emulsion.

Tissue engineering holds enormous potential to replace or restore function to a wide range of tissues. However, the most successful applications have been limited to thin avascular tissues in which delivery of essential nutrients occurs primarily by diffusion. Pursuant to the present invention, a prevascularized, thick tissue construct is created having a network of capillaries with lumens capable of nutrient and origin delivery and forming anastamoses to host vasculature. A tissue transplantation strategy is comprised of (1) in vitro vascularization of a tisue construct, (2) transplantation of prevascularized tissue to wound bed of host where vessels of implantable tissue and host rapidly anastomose, and (3) host-directed remodeling and reorganization of the tissue and vascular network.

An artificial tissue including an internal mass transport network having a plurality of channels, wherein the channels are designed to substantially mimic naturally occurring vascular network and a method for creating an internal transport system within a tissue scaffold to improve circulation, diffusion, and mass transport properties by utilizing computer-aided tissue engineering (CATE). The artificial tissue has the internal mass transport network of channels embedded, deposited, or molded within a scaffold, wherein the channels are made from a biodegradable transporting material and the scaffold is made from a scaffold material. The artificial tissue of the invention includes a basic circulatory system embedded within the tissue scaffold. This system provides mass transport throughout the entire scaffold and degrades after the new circulatory system develops.

The invention provides method of fabricating a scaffold comprising a fluidic network, including the steps of: (a) generating an initial vascular layer for enclosing the chamber and providing fluid to the cells, the initial vascular layer having a network of channels for fluid; (b) translating the initial vascular layer into a model for fluid dynamics analysis; (c) analyzing the initial vascular layer based on desired parameters selected from the group consisting of a characteristic of a specific fluid, an input pressure, an output pressure, an overall flow rate and combinations thereof to determine sheer stress and velocity within the network of channels; (d) measuring the sheer stress and the velocity and comparing the obtained values to predetermined values; (e) determining if either of the shear stress or the velocity are greater than or less than the predetermined values, and (f) optionally modifying the initial vascular layer and repeating steps (b)-(e). The invention also provides compositions comprising a vascular layer for use in tissue lamina as well as a medical devices having a vascular layer and kits.

The invention discloses a non-invasive central aortic blood pressure measuring method and device. The non-invasive central aortic blood pressure measuring method includes, according to a human artery network model based on viscous fluid mechanics, a method of calculating artery network model personalized parameters of a measured person through measured radial artery and brachial artery pulse wave signals and arm blood pressure values, a method of calculating an ascending aorta-radial artery transfer function and a method of calculating central arterial pressure waveforms through measured central arterial pressures. The non-invasive central aortic blood pressure continuous measuring device comprises a pulse wave signal processing and analysis unit and a radial artery and brachial artery pulse wave signal acquisition unit worn on a wrist. The method is different from an existing general transfer function method, the artery network model parameters of each person to be measured are measured and calculated and the artery network model parameters are numerical characteristics of the cardiovascular system states of the person to be measured with the calculated central arterial pressure waveforms, and the method and device has important meanings in prevention, curing and control of cardiovascular diseases, especially high-risk diseases, such as hypertensions and coronary heart diseases.

The invention discloses OCT-based in-situ three-dimensional printing skin repairing equipment and an implementation method thereof. The implementation method comprises the following steps: scanning a skin injury region by adopting an OCT technology to acquire a high-resolution three-dimensional skin injury OCT image; carrying out three-dimensional bionic structural design and modeling on the skin injury part based on the OCT image so as to ensure the reconstruction requirements of skin repair to layered interfaces and vascular networks in tissues; and then, transmitting the modeled skin injury repair model data to a 3D biological printer to carry out model layering and printing, thereby implementing quick, accurate and in-situ repair on the injured part. The OCT-based in-situ three-dimensional printing skin repairing equipment has the advantages of no contact, no injury and real-time imaging, meets the requirement of skin in-situ printing on high-resolution imaging of internal micro-structures, and can acquire distribution and density information of blood vessels in the skin corium layer so as to be convenient for constructing a three-dimensional model closer to real skin structures and functions.

A printed tissue construct comprises one or more tissue patterns, where each tissue pattern comprises a plurality of viable cells of one or more predetermined cell types. A network of vascular channels interpenetrates the one or more tissue patterns. An extracellular matrix composition at least partially surrounds the one or more tissue patterns and the network of vascular channels. A method of printing a tissue construct with embedded vasculature comprises depositing one or more cell-laden filaments, each comprising a plurality of viable cells, on a substrate to form one or more tissue patterns. Each of the one or more tissue patterns comprises one or more predetermined cell types. One or more sacrificial filaments, each comprising a fugitive ink, are deposited on the substrate to form a vascular pattern interpenetrating the one or more tissue patterns. The vascular pattern and the one or more tissue patterns are at least partially surrounded with an extracellular matrix composition. The fugitive ink is then removed to create vascular channels in the extracellular matrix composition, thereby forming an interpenetrating vascular network in a tissue construct.

The invention provides an automatic retinal blood vessel segmentation method for clinical diagnosis of glaucoma. Through the method, the influence of bright regions such as optic disc and exudate is eliminated by fusing five models depending on different image processing technologies, namely a matched filter, a neural network, multi-scale line detection, scale space analysis and morphology. At thesame time, massive data is not needed to establish a retinal blood vessel segmentation model, so the method greatly reduces the amount and complexity of data to be processed, is easy to realize, andcan effectively improve the efficiency of retinal blood vessel segmentation. The method also utilizes the region growth method and the gradient information to carry out iterative growth on the background and the blood vessel region on the basis of a multimodal fusion result, the segmentation results exhibit better continuity and smoothness, more retinal vascular details and more complete retinal vascular network can be kept, and thus the method effectively assists ophthalmologists in diagnosing diseases and lightens the burden of ophthalmologists.

The invention discloses a method for automatically identifying and distinguishing eye fundus images. The method comprises the following steps: obtaining black and white or colored eye fundus image pictures by using eye fundus photographic equipment, and storing the black and white or colored eye fundus image pictures according to a left eye or a right eye; dividing the eye fundus image of the left eye or the right eye into seven regions, which are respectively a first region-optic disk region, a second region-macular region, a third region- macular temporal region, a fourth region- area temporalis superior, a fifth region- area temporalis inferior, a sixth region- superior nasal region and a seventh region- inferior nasal region; and automatically judging that the collected eye fundus image belongs to one of the seven eye fundus regions through the computer graphics according to the optic disk, macular and vascular network information in the eye fundus image. The method disclosed by the invention is used for introducing automatic computer image identification into the processing of the images of the seven eye fundus regions, and extracting feature structures of different eye fundus regions to serve as reference for automatically locating and collecting the eye fundus image, and providing a brand new manner for researchers or film reading doctors to research and read the images of the seven eye fundus regions, so as to greatly improve the film reading efficiency and reduce the error probability.

The invention provides a retinal blood vessel morphology quantization method based on a connected region. The method obtains a retinal blood vessel segmentation image after the fundus image is preprocessed, and then performs post-processing on the blood vessel segmentation image. On this basis, the vascular network is thinned and boundary treated, and the vascular centerline network and vascular boundary map are obtained. Corner detection is then performed and removed from the vascular centerline network so that the vascular segments of the vascular network form separate communication areas. Traversing is performed on the blood vessel segment, approximate the centerline of the blood vessel segments, and the blood vessel segment is changed into a broken line to calculate the direction of the blood vessel. At last, that initial diameter value is calculated, the center of the circle is selected by sliding on the centerline of the blood vessel segment, a semicircle window is created according to the direction of the circle cardiovascular and the diameter value measured in the early stage, and the distance between the window and the two intersection points of the blood vessel boundary is taken as a new diameter value. From this iteration, a set of vessel diameter values are measured, and the median value is the vessel diameter of the vessel segment. The invention is applicable to the quantification of large-scale retinal blood vessel morphology, and has high reliability.

The blood flow is examined by making multifractal analysis of a blood flow velocity distribution in a vascular network and detecting a deviation of the blood flow velocity distribution from the multifractal distribution. The blood flow velocity distribution is provided as an image by irradiating laser light to the vascular network, converging, by an imaging lens, scattered laser light rays by blood cells in the blood flowing through blood vessels, detecting, by a photodetector, a speckle pattern produced owing to random interference between the scattered laser light rays and calculating the rate of change with time lapse of each speckle in the speckle pattern.

The invention provides a segmentation method and device for blood vessels in a fundus image, and a storage medium. The method comprises the steps that blood vessel segmentation based on Hessian matrixenhancement is conducted, and a threshold value is adopted for segmentation of the blood vessels; a multi-directional linear structure element is used for open operation processing on a G channel, morphological reconstruction is conducted for further enhancement, the multi-directional open operation is adopted and the minimum response is taken to obtain a background without a linear structure, and two images are subtracted to obtain a main vascular network; secondly, multi-directional Gaussian smoothing filtering and multi-directional Gaussian-Laplace filtering are conducted successively, andmulti-directional morphology and morphological reconstruction are adopted to enhance and preserve the filtered vascular network; finally an adaptive threshold value is determined to segment the bloodvessels; the segmentation results of the above two stages are combined to merge and make the final repair to obtain a final blood vessel binary image. The blood vessel segmentation method can improvethe sensitivity of blood vessel recognition and has better calculation efficiency without the need to train in advance.

Embodiments of the present invention include methods and systems for three-dimensional reconstruction of a tubular organ (for example, coronary artery) using a plurality of two-dimensional images. Some of the embodiments may include displaying a first image of a vascular network, receiving input for identifying on the first image a vessel of interest, tracing the edges of the vessel of interest including eliminating false edges of objects visually adjacent to the vessel of interest, determining substantially precise radius and densitometry values along the vessel, displaying at least a second image of the vascular network, receiving input for identifying on the second image the vessel of interest, tracing the edges of the vessel of interest in the second image, including eliminating false edges of objects visually adjacent to the vessel of interest, determining substantially precise radius and densitometry values along the vessel in the second image, determining a three dimensional reconstruction of the vessel of interest and determining fused area (cross-section) measurements along the vessel and computing and presenting quantitative measurements, including, but not limited to, true length, percent narrowing (diameter and area), and the like.

Methods of tissue engineering, and more particularly methods and compositions for generating various vascularized 3D tissues, such as 3D vascularized embryoid bodies and organoids are described. Certain embodiments relate to a method of generating functional human tissue, the method comprising embedding an embryoid body or organoid in a tissue construct comprising a first vascular network and a second vascular network, each vascular network comprising one or more interconnected vascular channels; exposing the embryoid body or organoid to one or more biological agents, a biological agent gradient, a pressure, and / or an oxygen tension gradient, thereby inducing angiogenesis of capillary vessels to and / or from the embryoid body or organoid; and vascularizing the embryoid body or organoid, the capillary vessels connecting the first vascular network to the second vascular network, thereby creating a single vascular network and a perfusable tissue structure.

Disclosed herein are capillary fabrication devices comprising living cells within a support medium. Culture of the cells produces viable lumenized capillary networks with natural or pre-determined geometries and ECM and basement membrane associated with the capillary networks. The capillary networks and the ECM and basement membrane detachable from the capillary networks are useful for tissue engineering applications.

Multifunctional guidewire assemblies and system for analyzing anatomical and functional parameters are described. Using a single guidewire, functional and anatomical measurements and identification of lesions may be made. Functional measurements such as pressure may be obtained with a pressure sensor on while anatomical measurements such as luminal dimensions may be obtained by utilizing an electrode. The vascular network and stenosed lesions may be modeled into an equivalent electrical network and solved based on the measured parameters. Treatment plan options may be constructed where each plan may correspond to the treatment of a subset of particular lesions. The anatomical outcome for each treatment plans may be estimated and the equivalent modified electrical parameters may be determined. Then, each of the electrical networks for each plan may be solved to determine the functional outcome for each treatment plan and the outcomes for all treatment plans may be presented to a physician.

An RF inductor such as a Tesla antenna splices nanotube ends together to form a nanostructure in a polymer foam matrix. High Internal Phase Emulsion (HIPE) is gently sheared and stretched in a reactor comprising opposed coaxial counter-rotating impellers, which parallel-align polymer chains and also carbon nanotubes mixed with the oil phase. Stretching and forced convection prevent the auto-acceleration effect. Batch and continuous processes are disclosed. In the batch process, a fractal radial array of coherent vortices in the HIPE is preserved when the HIPE polymerizes, and helical nanostructures around these vortices are spliced by microhammering into longer helices. A disk radial filter produced by the batch process has improved radial flux from edge to center due to its area-preserving radial vascular network. In the continuous process, strips of HIPE are pulled from the periphery of the reactor continuously and post-treated by an RF inductor to produce cured conductive foam.

An artificial placenta oxygenating device for use with an infant is provided. The device comprises a first layer comprising a gas permeable membrane; and a second layer comprising a vascular network that permits circulation of fluid therethrough, wherein a portion of the gas permeable membrane is attached to and covers the vascular network, wherein the vascular network comprises an inlet that permits fluid flow into the vascular network and an outlet that permits fluid to flow out of the vascular network and wherein the inlet and outlet are positioned so that fluid flows through the vascular network and in contact with the gas permeable membrane to permit gas exchange to occur. Assemblies comprising a plurality of single artificial placenta devices is also provided.

Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a method and apparatus for identifying and segmenting vascular structure in an image including: receiving at least one image including a vascular network; identifying at least one seed point corresponding to the vascular network; identifying automatically at least a portion of the vascular network to form an original vascular identification based at least in part on the at least one seed point; and allowing a dynamic user interaction with the vascular identification to form an iterative vascular identification. In an embodiment, the iterative vascular identification is formable in real-time. In an embodiment, the iterative vascular identification is displayable in real-time. In an embodiment, the iterative vascular identification is formable without re-identifying substantially unaltered portions of the vascular identification.

A system for dosing one or more fluids on a substrate, the system comprising a rotating roll. The rotating roll has a central longitudinal axis, wherein the rotating roll rotates about the central longitudinal axis; an exterior surface defining an interior region and substantially surrounding the central longitudinal axis; and a vascular network configured for transporting the one or more fluids in a predetermined path from the interior region to the exterior surface of the rotating roll.

A method of analyzing structure of a network of vessels in a medical image, comprising:receiving the medical image depicting the network of vessels;obtaining a mask of the network of vessels in the image; andgenerating a non-forest graph mapping a plurality of paths of vessels in the network to directed paths in the graph, with each edge in the graph either directed to indicate a known direction of flow in the corresponding vessel, or undirected to indicate a lack of knowledge of direction of flow in the corresponding vessel, and with all directed edges in a path directed in a same direction as the path.