Fluoroscopic Angiographic Overlay Without Stitching Distortion
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Capturing a sequence of live angiographic images involves administering a potentially toxic contrast agent, which is disadvantageous, and existing methods for overlaying angiographic information over fluoroscopic images are not efficient in avoiding distortions and parallax effects.
Innovation Solution
Acquire a plurality of image pairs consisting of fluoroscopic and angiographic images taken from the same position and viewing direction, register the live fluoroscopic image with each image pair, and overlay angiographic information representing the vascular structure onto the live fluoroscopic image without stitching or merging the images, thereby avoiding distortions and parallax effects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a sequence of live angiographic images is captured, then real-time vascular structure visualization is achieved, but the patient is exposed to toxic contrast agents repeatedly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs angiographic imaging only once before the intervention to obtain vascular structure information, then uses image registration and overlay techniques to display this pre-acquired vascular information on live fluoroscopic images. This preliminary action eliminates the need for repeated contrast agent administration while maintaining real-time visualization capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent separates the vascular structure acquisition (angiographic imaging with contrast agent) from the live monitoring (fluoroscopic imaging without contrast agent). By acquiring vascular information once and reusing it through registration and overlay, the system eliminates repeated contrast exposure while maintaining visualization reliability.
2Area of stationary object
If multiple angiographic images are stitched or merged to create a comprehensive vascular map, then complete vascular structure coverage is achieved, but image distortions and parallax effects occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses fluoroscopic images as an intermediary reference to register and overlay angiographic information. By registering live fluoroscopic images with the pre-acquired angiographic images and using the fluoroscopic images as a common reference frame, the system achieves accurate spatial alignment without stitching or merging angiographic images, thereby avoiding distortions and parallax effects.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of stitching or merging multiple angiographic images, the patent copies the pre-acquired angiographic information and overlays it onto live fluoroscopic images after registration. This copying approach preserves the original image quality without introducing stitching artifacts or parallax distortions while achieving comprehensive vascular structure coverage.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4
AI summary
According to the present invention, a plurality of image pairs, each consisting of a fluoroscopic image and an angiographic image taken from the same position and the same viewing direction onto the patient, is acquired. A live fluoroscopic image is registered individually with each fluoroscopic image within the image pairs, such that the spatial relationship between the live fluoroscopic image and the fluoroscopic images, and thus with the angiographic images and the image pairs in general, becomes known. Angiographic information representing the vascular structure can then be taken from those parts of the angiographic images within the image pairs which overlap with the live fluoroscopic image and be overlayed over the live fluoroscopic image.