Angiographic Overlay Registration for Contrast-Free Fluoroscopy

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Capturing angiographic images involves the administration of a contrast agent, which can be toxic to patients, making it disadvantageous for monitoring medical interventions.

Innovation Solution

Overlay angiographic information onto live fluoroscopic images by registering non-stitched image pairs taken from the same position and viewing direction, allowing vascular structures to be visible without administering a contrast agent during live imaging.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If angiographic images are captured to visualize vascular structures, then vascular structure information becomes available, but contrast agent toxicity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevascular structure informationVSAvoidcontrast agent toxicity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary angiographic imaging to acquire vascular structure information before the actual medical procedure. The registered angiographic image is stored and prepared in advance, so that during the procedure only fluoroscopic images are needed, avoiding repeated contrast agent administration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system creates a digital copy of the vascular structure information through angiographic imaging and registers it with the fluoroscopic images. This copy can be displayed alongside live fluoroscopic images without requiring additional contrast agent, replacing the need for repeated direct angiographic imaging.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

2Area of stationary object

If multiple angiographic images are captured to cover large anatomical areas, then complete vascular coverage is achieved, but contrast agent dosage increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveanatomical coverage areaVSAvoidcontrast agent dosage

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The registered angiographic image serves multiple functions: it provides vascular structure information for navigation, allows assessment of intervention results, and can be used for educational purposes. This single acquisition replaces multiple separate angiographic imaging sessions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Speed

If angiographic images are frequently captured during procedures, then real-time vascular monitoring is achieved, but patient exposure to contrast agents increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereal-time monitoring capabilityVSAvoidcontrast agent exposure

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The system introduces fluoroscopic images as an intermediary that can be captured frequently without contrast agent. These fluoroscopic images are registered with the preliminary angiographic image, providing real-time monitoring capability while using the registered image as a mediator to supply vascular structure information.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Measurement precision

If high-resolution angiographic images are captured, then detailed vascular structure visualization is achieved, but image processing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevascular structure visualization detailVSAvoidimage processing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system extracts only the essential vascular structure information from the high-resolution angiographic image and registers it with the fluoroscopic images. This extraction process isolates the critical anatomical features needed for navigation and monitoring, reducing the complexity of processing entire high-resolution images while maintaining visualization detail.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentUS12548173B2Combining angiographic information with fluoroscopic images

Publication Date: 2026.02.10 BRAINLAB AG

AI summary

According to the present invention, one or more image pairs, each consisting of a fluoroscopic image and an angiographic image taken from the same position and the same viewing direction onto the patient and each being a non-stitched image, are acquired. A live fluoroscopic image is registered individually with the fluoroscopic image within the at least one of the one or more image pairs, such that the spatial relationship between the live fluoroscopic image and the at least one fluoroscopic image, and thus with the one or more angiographic images and the one or more image pairs in general, becomes known. Angiographic information representing the vascular structure can then be taken from those parts of the angiographic images within the one or more image pairs which overlap with the live fluoroscopic image and be overlayed over the live fluoroscopic image.