ECG-Triggered Cardiac Imaging Stabilizes Sequences and Reduces Radiation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for ECG-triggered fluoroscopy in cardiac imaging face challenges such as high radiation exposure and unstable image sequences due to low image rates, which hinder effective control and monitoring of rapid instrument movements during procedures.
Innovation Solution
A method that determines optimal ECG-triggered recording times by analyzing image similarity measures across cardiac phases to ensure consistent and stable image acquisition, allowing for multiple images per heart cycle while minimizing radiation exposure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If the image rate is reduced to minimize radiation exposure, then radiation exposure is reduced, but the image sequence becomes unstable and image quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic action by synchronizing image acquisition with the periodic cardiac cycle using ECG triggering. Multiple images are acquired at specific phases of each heartbeat (e.g., diastole and systole), creating a stable periodic sampling pattern that captures consistent cardiac phases while reducing overall radiation exposure compared to continuous fluoroscopy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary analysis of image similarity measures from a preliminary series of images to identify optimal cardiac phases for image acquisition. This preliminary action allows the system to pre-determine which phases will provide the most stable and informative images, enabling subsequent image acquisition to be optimized without requiring continuous high-rate imaging.
2Productivity
If the image rate is increased to monitor rapid instrument movements, then monitoring capability improves, but radiation exposure increases substantially
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses periodic ECG-triggered image acquisition to capture multiple images per cardiac cycle at predetermined phases. This approach achieves an effective image rate sufficient for monitoring instrument movements (higher than single image per heartbeat) while maintaining low radiation exposure by only imaging at specific cardiac phases rather than continuously.
Solution Approach 2:
The cardiac cycle is segmented into distinct phases (e.g., diastole, systole) and images are acquired selectively at these segmented phases rather than continuously. This segmentation allows the system to capture critical motion information at key moments while avoiding unnecessary radiation exposure during intermediate phases.
3Productivity
If multiple images are recorded per heart cycle, then image rate increases, but finding fixed trigger times becomes problematic due to variable cardiac phases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses ECG feedback to dynamically adjust image acquisition timing. By continuously monitoring the ECG signal and detecting R waves, the system adapts the trigger times to the actual cardiac cycle variations. The image acquisition is synchronized to predetermined intervals following each detected R wave, allowing the system to maintain consistent cardiac phase sampling despite variations in heart rate and rhythm.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from fixed, predetermined trigger times to dynamic, ECG-synchronized trigger times. The image acquisition timing is continuously adapted based on the real-time ECG signal, allowing the system to maintain optimal image quality across varying cardiac conditions including changes in heart rate, rhythm, and cardiac phase duration.
4Stability of the object's composition
If ECG-triggered fluoroscopy is used to stabilize images, then image stability improves, but the image rate becomes very low for rapid movements
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs periodic image acquisition at multiple predetermined phases within each cardiac cycle (e.g., both diastole and systole). This multi-phase periodic sampling increases the effective image rate compared to single image-per-heartbeat approaches while maintaining the stability benefits of ECG-triggered synchronization, as each acquired image represents a consistent cardiac phase.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary analysis of image similarity from a preliminary image series to identify multiple optimal cardiac phases for image acquisition. This preliminary identification of multiple target phases enables the system to subsequently acquire images at multiple phases per cycle, increasing the effective image rate while maintaining stability through phase-consistent sampling.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention is directed to a method for determining a plurality of ECG-triggered recording times for cardiac imaging, comprising the steps: recording a plurality of images of the heart at predetermined time intervals; assigning the images to specific cardiac phase times; comparing the images in order to determine similarity measures between two images in each case, said similarity measures representing states of the heart requiring to be imaged that are similar in terms of imaging technology; identifying a group of images with mutual similarity measures in a predefined area, between the pairs of images; and specifying the cardiac phase times associated with the images in the group as the plurality of ECG-triggered recording times. In a further aspect the method can additionally include the step of performing the moving-target imaging based on image recordings at the specific recording times with the aid of ECG triggering.