Hemodynamic Index Determination Using Cardiac Cycle Lumen Profiles

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for determining hemodynamic indices like FFR or Pd/Pa are invasive, risky, and lack precision due to not considering lumen information from multiple time points of a cardiac cycle, leading to unreliable results.

Innovation Solution

A computer-implemented method processes multiple cardiac images to determine lumen radius measurements across a cardiac cycle, calculating hemodynamic indices like FFR by analyzing lumen radius profiles from multiple frames, considering maximum and minimum stenosis severity profiles.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If invasive FFR measurement is performed, then accurate hemodynamic assessment is achieved, but patient safety is compromised due to contrast agent exposure and medication risks

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveFFR measurement accuracyVSAvoidpatient safety risks
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a virtual FFR model by copying anatomical data from angiographic images into a computational fluid dynamics framework. This virtual model replicates hemodynamic conditions without requiring physical catheter insertion or contrast agent administration, thereby maintaining measurement accuracy while eliminating invasive safety risks

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical invasive measurement system (catheters, pressure wires, contrast agents) with a computational simulation system. The CFD model substitutes physical blood flow measurements with numerical calculations based on anatomical geometry and boundary conditions, eliminating all associated harmful factors

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Device complexity

If single-frame angiogram processing is used, then processing complexity is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates due to lack of temporal lumen information

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocessing complexityVSAvoidhemodynamic index accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the angiographic movie into multiple individual frames, processing each frame separately to extract lumen geometry at different temporal points. This segmentation allows the complex temporal information to be handled through multiple simpler single-frame processing operations, achieving both manageable complexity and high precision through comprehensive temporal data analysis

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP4530975A1Determination of hemodynamic indices
Publication Date: 2025.04.02 SIEMENS HEALTHINEERS AG
  • EP4530975A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4530975A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4530975A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Techniques for processing multiple cardiac images are disclosed. The multiple cardiac images, each of which depicts a portion of coronary arteries, i.e., the same portion of coronary arteries, within an anatomical region of interest, are obtained (3100) either during or after an angiography exam. A respective set of lumen radius measurements is determined (3200) based on each of the multiple cardiac images and comprises multiple lumen radius measurements respectively associated with multiple locations of the portion of the coronary arteries. A maximum stenosis severity profile and a minimum stenosis severity profile associated with the portion of the coronary arteries are respectively determined (3300) based on the respective sets of lumen radius measurements. A lumen radius profile associated with the portion of the coronary arteries is determined (3400) based on the maximum stenosis severity profile and the minimum stenosis severity profile. A respective value for each of at least one hemodynamic index at a given location of the portion of the coronary arteries is determined (3500) based on the lumen radius profile.