Adaptive Roadmap Generation in Angiography Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current angiography systems require repeated administration of contrast agents to maintain vessel representation during complex stent positioning, which can be inconvenient and may obscure important anatomical details, especially when the C-arm changes angulation or position.
Innovation Solution
An angiography system and method that generates a mask image adaptable to different imaging geometries by registering a reference image to the C-arm, allowing for segmentation and subtraction from fluoroscopy live images without contrast agents, enabling continuous roadmap representation without repeated contrast injections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If repeated contrast agent administration is used to maintain vessel representation during C-arm position changes, then vascular structure visibility is improved, but patient convenience deteriorates and anatomical details may be obscured
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by capturing a reference image with contrast agent before the intervention procedure. This reference image serves as a baseline for generating mask images that can be adaptively registered to different C-arm positions and angles during the procedure, eliminating the need for repeated contrast agent administration while maintaining vascular structure visibility throughout the intervention
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a copy of the vascular structure information from the initial reference image by generating mask images through image processing. These mask images are then adaptively registered to match the current C-arm position and geometry, providing continuous vascular representation without requiring repeated contrast injection, thus improving patient convenience while maintaining visibility
2Measurement precision
If contrast agent is administered repeatedly during C-arm angulation changes, then roadmap representation accuracy is improved, but the frequency of intervention procedures increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies dynamics by making the mask images adaptive and dynamic rather than static. The mask images generated from the reference image are automatically adjusted and registered to match the current C-arm position, angle, and geometry in real-time during the procedure. This dynamic adaptation maintains roadmap representation accuracy across all C-arm positions without requiring repeated contrast administration, thereby improving intervention efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The system utilizes parameter changes by modifying the mask image parameters (position, orientation, geometry) to match the current C-arm configuration. The image processing system adjusts these parameters dynamically based on the C-arm's real-time position, maintaining accurate vascular representation throughout the procedure without repeated contrast agent administration, thus improving both accuracy and efficiency
3Object-affected harmful factors
If mask images are generated without contrast agents, then patient exposure to contrast is reduced, but image quality may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts the essential vascular structure information from the initial reference image that was captured with contrast agent. By separating and extracting this critical anatomical information into mask images, the system can then display this extracted data during the procedure without requiring continuous contrast agent administration, thereby reducing patient exposure while maintaining anatomical detail visibility through the extracted and processed image data
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables continuous, contrast-free generation of roadmap images that maintain anatomical accuracy and visibility of vascular structures, simplifying instrument navigation and reducing the need for frequent contrast agent administration during interventions.
Implementation Method 1
an x-ray emitter 3 having x-ray rubes and a collimator
Implementation Method 2
an x-ray image detector 4 as an image recording unit
Data Source
AI summary
An angiography system for angiographic examination of a patient is provided. The system has an x-ray emitter and an x-ray image detector attached to the ends of a C-arm, a patient support couch, a system control unit, an image system and a monitor. The system control unit generates a mask image that detects a reference image, effects a registration of the reference image to the C-arm, whereby if necessary a segmentation of the examination object is implemented in the reference image, contrasts image regions lying inside of the segmentation in order to generate a mask image, and subtracts the mask image from fluoroscopy live images acquired by the angiography system without contrast agent in order to form a roadmap image. The image system effects a reproduction of the roadmap images on the monitor.