Medical Information Processing Apparatus for Non-Invasive Cardiac Signal Analysis

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional methods for evaluating electric signal propagation in the heart, such as electrode catheter insertion and pacing stimulation, impose significant burdens on patients and are insufficient for accurately diagnosing abnormal cardiac rhythms or setting target sites for catheter ablation.

Innovation Solution

A medical information processing apparatus that acquires four-dimensional image data of the cardiac muscle using imaging techniques like X-ray CT, extracts movement information, and applies a model to calculate electric signal propagation, reducing patient load and enhancing diagnostic accuracy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If electrode catheter insertion and pacing stimulation are used to evaluate electric signal propagation, then diagnostic accuracy is improved, but patient burden increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvediagnostic accuracyVSAvoidpatient burden

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a virtual model (copy) of the cardiac muscle structure based on medical images, and simulates electric signal propagation in this virtual model. This allows obtaining diagnostic information without performing invasive procedures on the actual patient, thus resolving the contradiction between diagnostic accuracy and patient burden.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical invasive procedure (electrode catheter insertion and pacing stimulation) with a computational simulation approach. By using image processing and mathematical models to simulate electric signal propagation, the system eliminates the need for physical intervention while maintaining diagnostic capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If electrocardiograms are used to evaluate electric signal propagation, then patient burden is reduced, but diagnostic accuracy deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepatient burdenVSAvoiddiagnostic accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transitions from the limited two-dimensional surface measurement of electrocardiograms to a three-dimensional volumetric analysis of the entire cardiac muscle. By reconstructing and analyzing electric signal propagation in 3D space based on medical images, the system provides comprehensive diagnostic information without invasive procedures, thus resolving the contradiction between patient burden and diagnostic accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentUS11484362B2Medical information processing apparatus and medical information processing method

Publication Date: 2022.11.01 CANON MEDICAL SYST CORP

AI summary

A medical information processing apparatus according to an embodiment includes a memory storing a model that represents a relation between cell deformation and electric signal propagation; and processing circuitry configured to acquire four-dimensional image data acquired by imaging a three-dimensional structure of a cardiac muscle in time series, extract movement information on the cardiac muscle at multiple positions in the four-dimensional image data, and apply the model to the movement information with respect to the positions to calculate electric signal propagation at the positions.