Automated Coronary Vascular Measurement for Objective Disease Scoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for determining vascular disease severity, such as the SYNTAX Score, are subjective and time-consuming, leading to variability in decision-making for interventions like PCI or CABG, especially in complex cases with multiple lesions or left main artery involvement.
Innovation Solution
An automated system and method for vascular state scoring that uses image data to determine vascular metrics, including stenosis, tortuosity, and other parameters, to calculate a score objectively and quickly, reducing subjectivity and time in decision-making.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If automated image analysis is used to determine vascular metrics, then measurement precision and productivity are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A computer system acts as an intermediary between the vascular image data and the SYNTAX Score calculation. The system automatically extracts vascular metrics (stenosis, tortuosity, vessel diameter) from angiographic images and inputs them into the scoring algorithm, eliminating manual measurement errors and subjectivity while managing complexity through software automation.
Solution Approach 2:
Manual mechanical measurement methods are replaced with automated image processing algorithms. The system uses computational methods to analyze vascular images, calculate metrics, and generate scores, substituting the manual mechanical process of measurement with an automated digital system that improves precision.
2Loss of time
If manual determination of SYNTAX Score is used, then device complexity is reduced, but loss of time and productivity decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary automated extraction of vascular metrics from images before the actual scoring decision is needed. By pre-processing the image data to extract relevant measurements (stenosis percentages, vessel dimensions, tortuosity), the system prepares the information in advance, reducing the time required for final score calculation and improving clinical workflow efficiency.
3Reliability
If subjective decision-making is used for intervention selection, then device complexity is reduced, but reliability and measurement precision worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The automated system provides objective feedback by calculating the SYNTAX Score based on measured vascular metrics rather than subjective physician assessment. The system consistently applies the scoring algorithm to the extracted measurements, providing reliable and reproducible results that reduce variability in clinical decision-making while maintaining manageability through standardized protocols.
Data Source
AI summary
An automated measurement device and method for coronary artery disease scoring is disclosed. An example device includes a processor configured to obtain a computerized model of a plurality of vascular segments of a patient and create an unstenosed computerized model from the computerized model by virtually enlarging at least some locations of the vascular segments of the computerized model. The processor also determines vascular state scoring tool (“VSST”) scores based on characteristics of vascular locations along the vascular segments. The processor further determines a severity of stenosis for the vascular locations based on comparisons of first blood flow parameter values at the vascular locations in the computerized model to corresponding second blood flow parameter values at the same vascular locations in the unstenosed computerized model. A user interface of the device displays the severity of stenosis in conjunction with the VSST scores for the vascular locations.