Coronary Artery Centerline Extraction for Non-Invasive FFR
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current simulation-based methods for non-invasive FFR measurement in ischemic heart disease are labor-intensive and prone to errors due to the need for time-series volume data throughout a heartbeat, especially when the heart moves quickly, leading to potential blurring of coronary artery images and increased analysis time.
Innovation Solution
A medical image processing apparatus that extracts and interpolates coronary artery centerline structures across multiple cardiac phases, generates a four-dimensional coronary artery deformation model, and calculates pressure distributions using fluid analysis, allowing for efficient data processing and reduced motion artifacts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If simulation-based measurement using fluid analysis is performed with time-series volume data throughout at least one heartbeat, then non-invasive FFR measurement is achieved, but imaging and data analysis require much labor and time
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts only the necessary information (coronary artery centerline structures at specific cardiac phases) from the complete time-series volume data, rather than processing all data throughout the heartbeat. This extraction approach maintains measurement accuracy while significantly reducing the time and computational resources required for analysis.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of performing complete fluid analysis throughout the entire heartbeat cycle, the invention performs analysis at selected cardiac phases (such as diastole and systole) and interpolates intermediate phases. This partial action approach achieves sufficient measurement accuracy without the excessive time investment required for continuous analysis.
2Measurement precision
If time-series volume data throughout at least one heartbeat is used for simulation, then FFR calculation is possible, but image blurring occurs when the heart moves fast
Solution Approach 1:
The invention performs image processing and centerline extraction at carefully selected cardiac phases (such as diastole when the heart moves slower) before performing fluid analysis. By preparing the data at optimal phases beforehand, the method avoids using blurred images from high-motion phases while maintaining measurement accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The heartbeat cycle is segmented into distinct phases (diastole, systole, and intermediate phases), with different processing strategies applied to each phase. This segmentation allows the invention to use high-quality, non-blurred images from stable phases while still capturing the necessary hemodynamic information for accurate FFR measurement.
3Measurement precision
If complete time-series data is processed, then comprehensive fluid analysis is achieved, but labor and time consumption increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts only the critical centerline structures and hemodynamic parameters from the time-series data at selected cardiac phases, rather than processing the complete dataset. This extraction maintains the essential information needed for accurate FFR calculation while dramatically improving analysis efficiency and reducing computational burden.
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
This approach reduces the time required for imaging and data analysis, improves accuracy by interpolating centerline structures across multiple cardiac phases, and minimizes errors caused by fast heart movement, providing a more reliable non-invasive FFR measurement.
Implementation Method 1
calculates a pressure distribution in a coronary artery by performing fluid analysis processing on the extracted geometric information and a boundary condition
Data Source
AI summary
A centerline extraction unit extracts at least two coronary artery centerline structures from at least two images respectively corresponding to at least two cardiac phases concerning a heart, an interpolation processing unit interpolates coronary artery centerline structures concerning other cardiac phases from the at least two extracted coronary artery centerline structures to generate coronary artery centerline structures respectively corresponding to a plurality of cardiac phases throughout one heartbeat of the heart, and a displacement distribution calculation unit calculates a plurality of displacement distributions between the respective cardiac phases from a plurality of coronary artery centerline structures throughout the one heartbeat.