Heart Valve Calcification Quantification via CT Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
The long-term durability of transcatheter heart valves is a concern due to premature structural degeneration and calcification, with stent crimping potentially causing damage to the leaflets, leading to increased calcification and valve failure.
Innovation Solution
A method using computed tomography (CT) imaging and calcification-specific staining to identify and quantify calcified regions in heart valve tissues, calculating a calcification ratio, and employing software to construct panoramic images and quantify RGB values for pixel analysis, thereby detecting and treating calcified areas.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If stent crimping is applied to deliver transcatheter heart valves, then the valve can be implanted via catheter, but the leaflets suffer mechanical damage leading to premature calcification and structural degeneration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary protective coating to the stent struts before crimping, creating a protective barrier that prevents mechanical damage to the leaflets during the crimping process. This protective layer is applied in advance to mitigate the harmful effects of stent crimping on valve durability.
2Measurement precision
If quantitative assessment of calcification is performed, then the extent of valve damage can be measured, but complex imaging and analysis procedures are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical histological analysis with non-invasive CT imaging and automated image processing algorithms. The system uses computational methods to quantify calcification based on CT density values, substituting elaborate physical dissection and staining procedures with digital image analysis.
3Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If CT imaging is used to identify calcified regions, then non-invasive detection is achieved, but differentiation between calcified and non-calcified tissue requires advanced image processing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes CT density parameter thresholds to automatically differentiate calcified from non-calcified tissue. By establishing specific Hounsfield unit ranges that correspond to calcified material, the system simplifies tissue differentiation through quantitative parameter analysis rather than complex qualitative assessment.
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
This approach effectively identifies and quantifies calcified regions, associating stent crimping with higher calcification levels, providing insights into valve durability and potential treatments to reduce calcification and extend valve lifespan.
Implementation Method 1
calcified regions in the tissue are distinguished by appearance of high-density material in a CT cross-sectional image
Implementation Method 2
histologically staining the cross-section of the tissue by a calcification-specific stain and generating a dual color image to detect calcified and non-calcified regions
Data Source
AI summary
A method of identifying and quantifying calcified regions of a tissue including obtaining an image of a cross-section of the tissue, wherein the image distinguishes between calcified regions and non-calcified regions of the cross-section of the tissue. Also disclosed are methods of detecting a change in size of a calcified region of a tissue over time including identifying and quantifying a first size of the calcified region of the tissue at a first time, identifying and quantifying a second size of the corresponding calcified region of the tissue at a second time, and detecting a change in size between the first and second size of the calcified region of the tissue in the image of a cross-section of the tissue. Some aspects relate to computer software program configured to construct a panoramic image from partial images, quantify RGB values for each pixel in the panoramic image, and calculate the total pixels of calcified and uncalcified regions and a calcification ratio.