Catheter Icon Segmentation for Medical Imaging UI

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Solution Overview

Problem

Modern medical imaging systems for cardiac catheterization present an overwhelming abundance of dynamically changing information, making it difficult for operators to efficiently process and appreciate the status of catheter elements during procedures, as detailed information is often obscured by anatomical maps.

Innovation Solution

A data processing system with a graphical user interface that provides a separate, rotatable icon of the catheter within the imaging system, allowing for clear visualization of the catheter's status and orientation independently of the heart's map, using visual cues and numerical indicators to highlight key elements like electrodes and sensors, thereby enhancing operator understanding.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If detailed information from multiple electrodes is presented on the anatomical map, then measurement precision is improved, but the information becomes obscured and difficult to process

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectrode status detectionVSAvoidcatheter element visibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The display is segmented into multiple functional areas: the anatomical map showing heart structure, a separate catheter icon showing overall catheter position and orientation, and individual electrode icons showing specific electrode status. This segmentation allows detailed electrode information to be displayed without obscuring the anatomical map, resolving the contradiction between measurement precision and information visibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Quantity of substance

If multiple data elements are displayed simultaneously, then information completeness is improved, but operator processing efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation completenessVSAvoidoperator processing efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

A separate catheter icon acts as an intermediary representation that summarizes catheter status without requiring the operator to interpret complex overlaid data on the anatomical map. This intermediary provides a simplified, intuitive view of catheter position and orientation, maintaining information completeness while dramatically improving operator processing efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Measurement precision

If anatomical map detail is increased, then diagnostic accuracy is improved, but catheter status visualization is obscured

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveanatomical mapping accuracyVSAvoidcatheter orientation detection
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

Catheter position and orientation information is displayed in a separate dimensional space through the catheter icon, rather than attempting to overlay this information on the two-dimensional anatomical map. This dimensional separation allows both the detailed anatomical map and clear catheter status visualization to coexist without mutual obstruction, resolving the contradiction between diagnostic accuracy and catheter status detection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentEP2839776B1Graphical user interface for medical imaging system
Publication Date: 2023.03.01 BIOSENSE WEBSTER (ISRAEL) LTD
  • EP2839776B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2839776B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2839776B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

While obtaining electrophysiologic data from a cardiac catheter a series of visual displays are presented. The displays include a respective current image of the heart and the distal portion of the cardiac catheter therein and further include a catheter icon that represents the distal portion of the cardiac catheter, The catheter icon is separated from the image of the heart in the displays. The catheter icon has indicia that represent functional elements of the cardiac catheter.