Coronary Microvascular Disease Diagnosis With Radiopaque Flow Mapping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for diagnosing coronary microvascular disease, which affects small arteries in the heart, are inadequate as they cannot consistently detect the abnormal constriction or relaxation of these vessels due to changes in arterial cells and muscle tissues, often leading to misdiagnosis in women and other susceptible groups.
Innovation Solution
Mapping functional flow measurements, such as blood flow velocity and pressure, to an image of the vasculature using a data collector with a radiopaque label, allowing for the co-registration of these measurements with imaging data to pinpoint the location and severity of damaged blood vessels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional imaging methods (angiography, stress test, cardiac MRI) are used to detect coronary artery disease, then blockages in large arteries can be identified, but coronary microvascular disease in small vessels cannot be consistently diagnosed because the small diseased vessels are not visible on these scans
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from structural imaging (visualizing vessel anatomy) to functional imaging (measuring blood flow characteristics). By measuring flow velocity and pressure gradients, the system detects microvascular dysfunction in a functional dimension rather than relying on structural visibility, enabling diagnosis of small vessel disease that cannot be seen on conventional angiograms
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses flow measurements as an intermediary to indirectly assess microvascular health. Instead of directly visualizing small vessels, the patent measures blood flow velocity and pressure changes that result from microvascular constriction or dysfunction, using these flow parameters as mediators to detect disease in vessels too small to be imaged directly
2Loss of information
If functional flow measurements are mapped to vasculature images using co-registration, then the location and severity of damaged blood vessels can be determined, but the system complexity increases due to integration of multiple data sources
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines functional flow measurement data with structural vasculature images through co-registration, merging two separate data streams into a unified diagnostic display. This integration allows simultaneous visualization of both vessel anatomy and functional abnormalities at corresponding locations, providing comprehensive diagnostic information in a single system
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a mapped representation (copy) of functional flow data overlaid on the vasculature image. By projecting flow measurement data onto the corresponding anatomical locations in the image, the patent generates a composite visualization that preserves spatial relationships while adding functional information without requiring direct physical integration of all system components
3Measurement precision
If a radiopaque label is co-located with the data collector, then the exact location of the data collector can be identified and correlated with specific vasculature locations, but the device structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The radiopaque label serves as an intermediary marker that bridges the data collector and the imaging system. The label's position can be precisely visualized on angiographic images, and by co-locating it with the data collector, the system establishes an accurate spatial reference that enables correlation of flow measurements with specific anatomical locations without requiring the data collector itself to be directly visible or complex
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
Enables accurate diagnosis of coronary microvascular disease by identifying abnormal vessel constriction or relaxation, even in the absence of stenosis, through simultaneous display of functional flow measurements and vasculature images, improving diagnostic accuracy and reducing radiation exposure.
Implementation Method 1
receiving imaging data of the vasculature including the radiopaque label
Data Source
AI summary
The invention provides systems and methods for assessing the vasculature of a subject. In certain aspects, systems and methods of the invention involve receiving functional flow data of a subject via a data collector co-located with a radiopaque label, receiving imaging data of the vasculature including the radiopaque label, generating a vasculature map corresponding to the functional flow data, and displaying the vasculature map image on a monitor.