Coronary Artery Flow Velocity Estimation via 3D Centerline Segmentation

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for estimating arterial flow information in CT imaging face challenges due to overlap of signals from the left ventricle with coronary artery signals, leading to inaccurate arterial flow velocity measurements.

Innovation Solution

A method is developed to generate arterial flow signals by constructing a 3D centerline of coronary arteries, subtracting background intensity values, and calculating arterial flow velocity using time attenuation sequences and cumulative sums of intensities across CT projection images, thereby reducing background interference and improving estimation accuracy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If standard CT imaging methods are used to capture coronary artery signals, then the left ventricle signals are captured along with coronary artery signals, but the accuracy of arterial flow velocity measurements deteriorates due to signal overlap

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesignal capture completenessVSAvoidarterial flow velocity measurement accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the coronary artery structure by constructing a 3D centerline that represents only the central pathway of the artery. This segmentation isolates the coronary artery signals from the left ventricle signals, allowing separate analysis of arterial flow without contamination from ventricular background signals.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the coronary artery centerline from the full 3D coronary structure by removing voxels to reduce thickness to a centerline representation. This extraction process separates the artery of interest from surrounding tissues and the left ventricle, enabling isolated measurement of arterial flow velocity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Measurement precision

If background intensity values are subtracted from CT projection images, then background interference is reduced, but the complexity of image processing increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvearterial flow signal accuracyVSAvoidimage processing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary background subtraction by determining background intensity values from regions adjacent to the coronary artery centerline and subtracting these values from the projection images before flow velocity calculation. This preliminary processing removes background interference early in the workflow, simplifying subsequent measurements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces background intensity values as an intermediary element that mediates between the raw CT projection images and the final flow velocity measurements. These background values act as a corrective factor that eliminates interference without requiring complex filtering or segmentation algorithms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Difficulty of detecting and measuring

If 3D centerline construction is performed by removing voxels to reduce thickness, then the coronary artery structure is simplified for analysis, but the processing time and computational complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecoronary artery signal isolationVSAvoidprocessing time

Core Design Contradiction:

Difficulty of detecting and measuringVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the 3D coronary artery structure into a centerline representation by systematically removing voxels from the outer regions, retaining only the central pathway. This segmentation simplifies the complex 3D structure into a 1D centerline that is easier to track and measure, reducing the difficulty of detecting and measuring arterial flow.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

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 enhances the accuracy and robustness of arterial flow velocity measurements by mitigating background interference and providing flexible time interval integration, leading to more reliable vascular flow signal representation.

Implementation Method 1

Computed tomography (CT) allows for imaging interior anatomical regions and organs in patients

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectX-ray attenuation: X-Ray

Data Source

PatentUS10918344B2Methods and systems for determining vascular velocity using CT imaging

Publication Date: 2021.02.16 WISCONSIN ALUMNI RES FOUND

AI summary

Systems and methods for estimating arterial flow information can include a processor generating a time attenuation sequence for each point of a pair of points along a segment of a coronary artery structure. The processor can determine the arterial flow velocity between the pair of points using the distance between the pair of points and the difference between average transit times associated with the pair of points. The one or more processors can determine the average transit times across the same time window. The processor can determine the arterial flow velocity between the pair of points using the distance between the pair of points and the difference between a first time duration that a number of particles take to pass by a first point of the pair of points and a second time duration that the number of particles take to pass by the other point.