Coronary Artery Blood Flow Parameter Visualization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current medical image processing systems struggle to accurately correlate blood flow parameters with the morphology of coronary arteries, making it difficult to determine the relevance of blood flow values and decide on appropriate treatments.
Innovation Solution
A medical image processing apparatus that obtains CT image data, derives blood flow and morphological parameters, and displays this information using a graph that correlates parameter values with the distance along the coronary artery, along with supplementary structural information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If blood flow parameters are derived from medical image data, then hemodynamic information can be obtained, but the correspondence between parameter values and coronary artery positions becomes difficult to understand
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the display from a conventional two-dimensional format to a three-dimensional representation. The blood flow parameters are plotted along the longitudinal axis of the coronary artery, with the vertical axis representing parameter values and the horizontal axis representing the longitudinal position. This dimensional transformation enables direct visual correspondence between parameter values and their spatial locations in the coronary artery, resolving the information loss problem without significantly increasing display complexity.
2Loss of information
If detailed correspondence information is displayed, then understanding of parameter-position relationship improves, but display complexity and information overload increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and emphasizes only the most critical correspondence information - the relationship between blood flow parameter values and their longitudinal positions in the coronary artery. By isolating this key relationship and presenting it through a simplified three-dimensional graphical representation, the system provides essential correspondence information without overwhelming the user with unnecessary detailed data, thus reducing information overload while maintaining clarity.
Data Source
AI summary
A medical image processing apparatus according to an embodiment includes processing circuitry. The processing circuitry is configured to obtain medical image data related to a coronary artery of a subject. The processing circuitry is configured to derive a value of a blood flow parameter indicating hemodynamics of the coronary artery, on the basis of the medical image data. The processing circuitry is configured to display information indicating a change in the value of the blood flow parameter along the coronary artery, by using a graph of which the vertical axis expresses values of the blood flow parameter and of which the horizontal axis corresponds to the distance direction along the coronary artery and is configured to further display supplementary information indicating the structure of the coronary artery together with the graph.