Spectral imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cardiac catheter ablation procedures often fail due to inadequate assessment of tissue ablation, leading to insufficient ablation of target tissue.
Innovation Solution
A system that performs contrast-enhanced imaging using a contrast agent with nano-particles targeting scar tissue, analyzing the images to quantify the amount of contrast material and generate recommendations for further ablation based on pre-determined thresholds, ensuring complete ablation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If cardiac catheter ablation procedures are performed without adequate ablation assessment, then the procedure can be completed quickly, but the ablation completeness is insufficient leading to procedural failure
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs contrast-enhanced imaging and quantification analysis during the ablation procedure to assess ablation completeness in real-time, allowing the operator to verify adequate tissue ablation before completing the procedure. This preliminary assessment ensures reliability without significant time loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides quantitative feedback on ablation completeness by measuring contrast material uptake in ablated tissue and comparing it against threshold values. This feedback loop enables the operator to adjust ablation parameters or perform additional ablation if completeness criteria are not met, thereby improving procedural reliability.
2Measurement precision
If contrast-enhanced imaging is performed to assess ablation completeness, then ablation assessment accuracy is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system utilizes a multi-functional CT scanner that can perform both anatomical imaging and contrast-enhanced imaging for ablation assessment. The same imaging device serves multiple purposes: structural visualization, functional assessment, and quantitative analysis, thereby improving measurement precision without proportionally increasing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically performs quantification of contrast material uptake and comparison with threshold values, generating assessment results without requiring manual analysis. This automated self-service approach reduces the need for complex manual evaluation procedures while maintaining high measurement precision.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system effectively assesses the completeness of tissue ablation, reducing the likelihood of unsuccessful procedures by providing accurate recommendations for additional ablation.
Implementation Method 1
a contrast agent with nano-particles targeting scar tissue
Implementation Method 2
contrast enhanced imaging using a contrast agent
Data Source
AI summary
An analyzer (124) includes a quantifier (204) configured to quantify an amount of contrast material representing scar tissue created by ablation for tissue of interest in contrast enhanced imaging data and a recommender (210) configured to generate a signal indicative of a recommendation to further ablate the tissue of interest in response to the quantified amount of the contrast material not satisfying a pre-determined threshold. A method includes obtaining contrast enhanced image data indicative of scar tissue created by ablation of tissue of interest, quantifying an amount of contrast material for the scar tissue in the tissue of interest, and generating a signal indicative of a recommendation to further ablate the tissue of interest in response to the quantified amount of the contrast material not satisfying a pre-determined threshold.