Automated Collateral Blood Flow Analysis Using 4D Vascular Data
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for evaluating collateral blood flow in vascular systems, particularly in stroke treatment, rely on subjective manual analysis of two-dimensional or three-dimensional images, which are inadequate for objective and precise assessment of collateral status and therapeutic planning.
Innovation Solution
A method utilizing four-dimensional vascular data sets to segment blood vessels, determine collateral diameters, filling parameters, and time parameters, enabling automatic and objective evaluation of collateral information through a collateral classifier, and generating collateral maps for improved diagnostic accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual visual evaluation of two-dimensional images from digital subtraction angiography or computed tomography angiography is used, then anatomical information is obtained, but the evaluation is subjective and lacks precision
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual visual evaluation with automated computer-based analysis of four-dimensional vascular data sets. The system automatically segments blood vessels, identifies collaterals, and calculates filling parameters and time parameters, substituting human subjective assessment with objective computational analysis while maintaining clinical utility.
2Extent of automation
If four-dimensional vascular data sets are used to enable automatic evaluation, then objectivity and precision are improved, but data processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the four-dimensional vascular data set into individual blood vessels and identifies collaterals among them. By dividing the complex data into manageable components (vessel segmentation, collateral identification, parameter calculation), the system achieves automation while making the processing complexity tractable through structured analysis.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts specific collateral information (filling parameters and time parameters) from the comprehensive four-dimensional vascular data set. This extraction focuses the analysis on the most clinically relevant aspects of collateral function, enabling automated evaluation without requiring processing of all available data.
3Measurement precision
If detailed automated analysis of blood flow through collaterals is performed, then diagnostic accuracy is enhanced, but evaluation time is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the temporal dimension of four-dimensional vascular data sets to continuously track contrast medium flow through collaterals. This continuous analysis provides detailed diagnostic information about collateral function while the automated processing ensures rapid evaluation, eliminating the trade-off between detail and speed.
Data Source
AI summary
Determining collateral information describing blood flow in collaterals of a blood vessel system in a target region of a patient from a four-dimensional vascular data set describing image values of temporal flow of a contrast medium and/or marked blood constituents as recorded by a medical imaging device is provided. A method includes segmenting the blood vessel system in the vascular data set and determining collaterals among the segmented blood vessels by a collateral classifier. For all collaterals determined, a diameter of the collateral is determined taking into account the segmentation, a filling parameter describing the filling of the collaterals, and a time parameter describing the time response relative to a reference point in the blood vessel system from a temporal course of the image values in a portion of the collaterals under consideration. The method includes determining the collateral information from the diameter, the filling parameter, and the time parameter.