Coronary Vessel Motion Tracking for Heart Mechanics Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cardiology procedures lack effective methods for analyzing heart mechanical activity using standard, widespread imaging equipment like fluoroscopy, which is necessary for precise localization of pacing leads during biventricular pacing and assessment of coronary artery stenosis severity.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for analyzing heart motion by acquiring and analyzing time sequences of 2D X-ray images to quantify parameters characterizing local heart motion, such as contraction magnitude and timing, using techniques like strain graph generation and motion mapping, allowing for optimal lead placement and disease severity assessment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If standard fluoroscopy equipment is used for imaging, then device complexity and cost are reduced, but the ability to analyze heart mechanical activity is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces coronary vessels as intermediary objects that can be visualized using standard fluoroscopy equipment. By tracking the motion of these vessels, the system indirectly measures heart wall motion and mechanical activity, thereby maintaining simplicity of imaging equipment while achieving precise mechanical activity analysis through vessel motion as a mediator
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces direct mechanical measurement systems (such as echocardiography or MRI) with an optical tracking system that monitors coronary vessel motion. This substitution allows the use of simpler fluoroscopy equipment to achieve mechanical activity analysis by observing the motion of contrast-filled vessels rather than directly imaging heart tissue
2Manufacturing precision
If detailed knowledge of temporal and spatial characteristics of LV contraction is obtained, then lead placement precision is improved, but the complexity of the procedure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary analysis of coronary vessel motion to identify regions of interest and characterize contraction patterns before actual lead implantation. By pre-mapping the temporal and spatial characteristics of left ventricular contraction through vessel motion tracking, the system simplifies the subsequent lead placement procedure while ensuring high precision
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality analysis by examining coronary vessel motion in specific regions of the left ventricle separately. This allows identification of local contraction characteristics and timing variations in different segments, enabling precise lead placement in the most appropriate region without requiring complex global analysis of the entire heart
3Productivity
If real-time analysis of heart mechanical activity is performed, then treatment planning efficiency is improved, but the complexity of the system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and isolates the analysis of coronary vessel motion from the overall cardiac imaging process. By focusing specifically on tracking vessel contours and calculating their motion parameters in real-time, the system achieves efficient treatment planning without requiring complex analysis of the entire cardiac structure, thereby reducing overall system complexity while maintaining high productivity
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 real-time analysis of heart mechanical activity during procedures, improving the success rate of biventricular pacing and facilitating the identification of coronary artery stenosis severity using standard equipment, thereby enhancing treatment planning and patient outcomes.
Implementation Method 1
acquiring a time sequence of 2-dimensional X-ray images of a region of interest
Data Source
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AI summary
Method and apparatus for detecting and analyzing heart mechanical activity at a region of interest of a patient's heart are provided. The method comprises acquiring a time sequence of 2-dimensional X-ray images of a region of interest over at least part of a cardiac cycle; detecting coronary vessels in the X-ray images; tracking the coronary vessels through the sequence of images to identify movements of the coronary vessels; and analyzing the movements of the coronary vessels to quantify at least one- parameter characterizing heart wall motion in the region of interest.