Automated Heart Wall Motion Scoring via Contour Metrics
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for analyzing heart wall motion using 2D echocardiography are subjective and time-consuming, failing to effectively account for changing disease pathophysiology, geographical variations, and evolving understanding of disease, necessitating an improved system for objective and continuous scoring.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that acquire and process echocardiography images to identify contour data, generate metrics representing cardiac cyclic changes, and compare these metrics with a reference data model to score heart wall motion on a continuous scale, automating the scoring process and allowing for dynamic adaptation to changing conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If subjective classification by expert cardiologist is used, then diagnostic accuracy may be maintained through human judgment, but time consumption increases and objectivity is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical system of manual visual assessment by cardiologists with an automated image processing system that uses contour detection, metric calculation, and reference data model comparison to objectively score wall motion, thereby reducing time consumption while maintaining diagnostic accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service by allowing the echocardiography system to automatically perform wall motion scoring without requiring expert cardiologist intervention for each assessment, using automated contour identification, metric generation, and comparison with reference models
2Ease of operation
If categorical scoring system is used, then simplicity is maintained, but adaptability to changing disease pathophysiology and evolving understanding is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic reference data model that can be updated with new data from changing patient populations and evolving disease understanding, allowing the scoring system to adapt over time while maintaining operational simplicity through automated metric comparison
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of scoring from fixed categorical values to continuous metrics that can be compared against evolving reference models, enabling adaptation to changing disease pathophysiology while maintaining ease of use through automated processing
3Productivity
If automated continuous scoring is implemented, then productivity and objectivity are improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the wall motion assessment into distinct measurable parameters (contour metrics, area changes, thickness variations) that can be independently calculated and compared, improving productivity through automated processing while managing complexity through modular analysis
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a system (100) for scoring motion of a heart wall (214, 218). The system (100) includes an imaging system (102) operable to acquire a first image (230) of the heart wall (214, 218) at a first time and a second image (240) of the heart wall (214, 218) at a second time. A processor (108) is provided to identify a first set of contour data in the first image (230); and a second set of contour data in the second image (240). The processor (108) defines at least one element (Ei) representing a cardiac cyclic change in a section of the heart wall (214, 218) in dependence on the first and second sets of contour data. Each element (Ei) is analysed to generate at least one metric which is compared with a reference data model to score the motion of the corresponding section of the heart wall (214, 218). The disclosure also relates to a method of scoring motion of a heart wall (214, 218); and a non-transitory computer-readable medium.