Non-invasive Coronary Stenosis Assessment via Computational Hemodynamics
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current clinical practices for diagnosing coronary artery stenosis lack a non-invasive method to assess the functional impact of lesions on blood flow, relying on invasive pressure measurements that carry risks and are not accurate for narrow stenoses.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that use patient-specific anatomical measurements from medical image data to simulate blood flow and pressure in coronary arteries, calculating hemodynamic indices like the instantaneous wave-Free Ratio (iFR) without invasive pressure measurements, by modeling coronary autoregulation and identifying a wave-free period in simulated cardiac cycles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If invasive pressure measurements are used to assess coronary artery stenosis, then functional assessment of blood flow can be obtained, but risks associated with the intervention and additional pressure drop in narrow stenosis occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a virtual copy of the coronary artery system through computational modeling. Patient-specific 3D models are generated from medical imaging data, and hemodynamic simulations replicate the physiological behavior of blood flow and pressure without physical intervention. This virtual copy enables measurement of hemodynamic indices (FFR, iFR, dPR) that accurately reflect the functional impact of stenosis without requiring actual wire insertion into the patient's vessels.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical invasive measurement system (pressure wires and catheters) with a computational fluid dynamics system. Instead of physically inserting devices into coronary arteries to measure pressure gradients, the system uses numerical simulations based on patient-specific anatomical models to calculate hemodynamic parameters. This substitution eliminates mechanical intervention risks while maintaining measurement capability through mathematical modeling of blood flow physics.
2Ease of operation
If anatomical assessment alone is used for coronary stenosis diagnosis, then procedural simplicity is maintained, but functional impact of lesions on blood flow cannot be determined
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges anatomical imaging data with hemodynamic simulation capabilities into an integrated diagnostic system. Patient-specific 3D models are constructed from standard medical images (CTA, MRI, or angiography), and computational fluid dynamics algorithms are applied to these models to generate functional assessments. This combination allows the system to deliver both anatomical visualization and functional hemodynamic information (blood flow impact, pressure gradients) through a unified workflow, eliminating the need for separate invasive functional testing.
Solution Approach 2:
The computational model automatically performs hemodynamic analysis using patient-specific anatomical data as input. The system self-calibrates by extracting vessel geometry, material properties, and boundary conditions directly from the imaging data and physiological parameters. The simulation autonomously calculates hemodynamic indices without requiring manual intervention or additional invasive measurements, making the functional assessment an integrated part of the diagnostic process rather than a separate procedure.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method and system for non-invasive hemodynamic assessment of coronary artery stenosis based on medical image data is disclosed. Patient-specific anatomical measurements of the coronary arteries are extracted from medical image data of a patient. Patient-specific boundary conditions of a computational model of coronary circulation representing the coronary arteries are calculated based on the patient-specific anatomical measurements of the coronary arteries. Blood flow and pressure in the coronary arteries are simulated using the computational model of coronary circulation and the patient-specific boundary conditions and coronary autoregulation is modeled during the simulation of blood flow and pressure in the coronary arteries. A wave-free period is identified in a simulated cardiac cycle, and an instantaneous wave-Free Ratio (iFR) value is calculated for a stenosis region based on simulated pressure values in the wave-free period.