Cine-loop Emulation Using Organ Timing Signals

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing medical imaging systems that use cine-loops to reduce radiation exposure during procedures often include non-representative images, which can lead to inaccurate anatomical representations, compromising the effectiveness of the emulation of real-time imaging.

Innovation Solution

A control unit is configured to associate each image with an organ timing signal reading, assess whether the images represent a normal organ configuration, and output only those images that are representative, thereby creating a more accurate cine-loop for display during medical procedures.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If all acquired images are included in the cine-loop, then the completeness of the anatomical representation is improved, but the accuracy of the organ configuration representation deteriorates due to inclusion of non-representative images

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompleteness of anatomical representationVSAvoidaccuracy of organ configuration representation
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system extracts and removes non-representative images from the acquired image set based on comparison with reference images. Images that do not match the normal organ configuration patterns are identified and excluded from the final cine-loop, thereby maintaining accuracy while preserving completeness of representative anatomical data.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses feedback mechanisms by comparing each acquired image against reference images representing normal organ configurations. This comparison provides feedback on whether an image represents a normal configuration, enabling automatic filtering of non-representative images from the cine-loop.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Measurement precision

If real-time fluoroscopy is used to continuously image the region of interest, then the accuracy of medical device position visualization is improved, but the radiation exposure to patient and physician worsens

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccuracy of medical device position visualizationVSAvoidradiation exposure
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system creates a cine-loop copy of pre-acquired images that can be replayed during the medical procedure. This copied sequence provides continuous visualization of organ motion and medical device position without requiring continuous real-time fluoroscopy, thereby reducing radiation exposure while maintaining diagnostic accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of continuous real-time imaging, the system uses periodic image acquisition to capture a sequence of images that are then replayed as a cine-loop. This periodic sampling approach provides sufficient information for medical device position visualization while significantly reducing the cumulative radiation dose compared to continuous fluoroscopy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentEP2908728B1Representative emulation of organ behavior
Publication Date: 2019.04.10 ST JUDE MEDICAL INT HLDG SARL
  • EP2908728B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2908728B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2908728B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method for emulating prerecorded images may comprise acquiring at least one organ timing signal reading representing an activity state of an organ with at least one organ timing signal detector, acquiring a plurality of images with a medical imaging system, associating each of the plurality of images with an organ timing signal reading, removing any of the organ timing signal readings and associated images that are not representative of a normal organ configuration, and outputting a sequence of the representative images for a display.