Dynamic Vessel Roadmapping for Fluoroscopy Alignment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing fluoroscopy-based medical interventions face challenges with misalignment between vessel images obtained during a preceding medical imaging method and real-time fluoroscopy images due to patient movement, leading to increased contrast medium use and radiation exposure.

Innovation Solution

A dynamic vessel roadmapping method that generates a vessel roadmap library using imaging physiological data, aligning vessel images with real-time fluoroscopy through cardiac and respiratory motion compensation, allowing overlay without additional contrast medium.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If vessel images from a preceding medical imaging method are overlaid on real-time fluoroscopy images, then contrast medium use and radiation exposure are reduced, but misalignment between the overlaid vessel tree and actual vessel position occurs due to patient movement

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrast medium use and radiation exposureVSAvoidalignment accuracy between vessel images and fluoroscopy images

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by capturing physiological signals (ECG, respiratory signals) and motion data during the preceding medical imaging method to create a library of pre-aligned vessel roadmaps. These roadmaps are prepared in advance with alignment information embedded, allowing rapid selection and application during the intervention without requiring real-time alignment computation, thus reducing contrast medium use and radiation exposure while maintaining alignment accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adapts the pre-aligned vessel roadmaps to real-time fluoroscopy images by selecting the most appropriate roadmap from the library based on current physiological conditions and motion state. The alignment transformation parameters are updated dynamically to compensate for patient movement during the intervention, ensuring continuous accurate alignment while avoiding the need for additional contrast medium and radiation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If additional contrast medium is injected to obtain real-time vessel overview during fluoroscopy, then vessel visibility is improved, but renal function is compromised and radiation exposure increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevessel visibility during interventionVSAvoidrenal function and radiation exposure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system creates a copy of the vessel tree information from the preceding medical imaging method and stores it in a library of pre-aligned vessel roadmaps. During the intervention, these copied roadmaps are overlaid on real-time fluoroscopy images to provide vessel visibility guidance without requiring additional contrast medium injection. The copies are transformed and aligned to match current patient position, enabling reliable vessel navigation while avoiding the harmful effects of repeated contrast exposure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

3Manufacturing precision

If real-time fluoroscopy is performed continuously to guide the intervention, then procedural accuracy is improved, but radiation exposure and intervention time increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocedural accuracyVSAvoidradiation exposure and intervention time

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system introduces pre-aligned vessel roadmaps as an intermediary layer between the operator and the real-time fluoroscopy images. These roadmaps serve as a mediator that provides persistent vessel tree information without requiring continuous fluoroscopy imaging. The roadmaps are transformed and aligned to account for patient motion, allowing the operator to navigate vessels with high procedural accuracy while significantly reducing total radiation exposure and intervention time by eliminating the need for continuous real-time imaging.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP4283561B1Dynamic vessel roadmapping

Publication Date: 2025.12.03 SIEMENS HEALTHINEERS AG

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AI summary

The present application relates to a computer-implemented dynamic vessel roadmapping method. The method comprises generating a vessel roadmap library, the vessel roadmap library including a plurality of vessel roadmaps, wherein each vessel roadmap comprises vessel roadmap image and first and second alignment data, obtaining a real-time fluoroscopy image and corresponding real-time first and second fluoroscopy information, overlaying a vessel roadmap image of the vessel roadmap library with the real-time fluoroscopy image based on the first alignment data, the second alignment data, and the real time first and second fluoroscopy information and aligning the vessel roadmap image and the real-time fluoroscopy image based on the second alignment data and the real time second fluoroscopy information, wherein the second alignment data is derived from the corresponding vessel roadmap image.