Integrated Coronary Imaging Workflow Without Pressure Wires
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current interventional cardiology sensing systems, including extravascular and intravascular sensing systems, are disconnected and result in reduced treatment efficacy, increased procedure time, and loss of information due to logistical delays and inefficiencies in integrating disparate data modalities.
Innovation Solution
A single integrated workstation that combines extravascular and intravascular imaging data to provide optimized workflow guidance, utilizing angiography-derived FFR technology and intravascular imaging to enhance treatment planning and decision-making with automated insights and improved user interface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate extravascular and intravascular sensing systems are used, then each system can provide specialized imaging capabilities, but the systems remain disconnected resulting in increased procedure time and loss of information
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges extravascular and intravascular sensing systems into a single integrated platform that simultaneously acquires and processes data from both modalities. The system combines angiography imaging with intravascular optical coherence tomography (OCT) and near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) to provide comprehensive coronary assessment in one procedure, eliminating the need for separate testing sessions and reducing overall procedure time while maintaining specialized imaging capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated sensing system performs multiple functions simultaneously - it conducts extracorporeal angiography, intravascular OCT imaging, and NIRS spectroscopy all through a single catheter platform. This multi-functional approach allows the system to provide global vascular characteristics, local tissue characterization, and functional assessment in one unified procedure, reducing the time required for multiple separate interventions.
2Measurement precision
If invasive pressure wires are used for FFR measurements, then accurate ischemic flow assessment is achieved, but the procedure becomes more complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical pressure wire system with an optical-based FFR measurement system. Instead of using invasive pressure sensors that require physical placement of wires into coronary vessels, the system uses optical coherence tomography and near-infrared spectroscopy to non-contact measure pressure and flow dynamics. This substitution maintains measurement accuracy while significantly reducing procedure complexity and eliminating the need for separate pressure wire interventions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces optical fields as an intermediary to measure pressure and flow parameters. Rather than directly placing mechanical sensors in contact with the vessel wall, the system uses optical waves to indirectly measure pressure gradients and flow characteristics through tissue interaction. This intermediary approach enables accurate FFR measurement without the invasive pressure wires, reducing procedural complexity while maintaining diagnostic precision.
3Loss of information
If multiple separate sensing systems are utilized, then comprehensive vascular information can be gathered, but the workflow becomes cumbersome and treatment efficacy is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the workflows of multiple sensing systems into a single integrated procedure. The system simultaneously performs extracorporeal angiography, intravascular OCT imaging, and NIRS spectroscopy through coordinated data acquisition and processing. This integration ensures that all vascular information - global anatomy, local tissue characteristics, and functional parameters - are gathered and correlated in one unified workflow, eliminating the cumbersome task of coordinating multiple separate procedures and improving treatment efficacy through comprehensive, integrated assessment.
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
Facilitates efficient and accurate coronary measurements without invasive pressure wires, reducing procedure time and improving treatment outcomes by integrating extravascular and intravascular data for enhanced diagnostic and procedural guidance.
Implementation Method 1
Intravascular sensing systems are systems that sense (e.g., image, detect, probe) from the interior of a coronary vessel, using a form of electromagnetic radiation (e.g., Pressure sensing, flow sensing, electrical sensing/mapping, Optical coherence tomography imaging (OCT), ultrasound (US) imaging, Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) imaging, Photoacoustics (PA) imaging)
Implementation Method 2
Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) imaging
Implementation Method 3
Photoacoustics (PA) imaging
Data Source
AI summary
Intravascular sensing systems and extravascular sensing systems are both integral tools in the interventional cardiology workflow but remain relatively disconnected & disparate sources of information. Effective utilization of the information between these disparate systems can be cumbersome for a clinician and result in reduced treatment efficacy, increased procedure times and loss of information. The present disclosure overcomes these limitations & enables optimized interventional workflows and improved coronary assessments.