Intracardiac Tool Image Stabilization via ECG-Triggered Buffering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current medical imaging technologies face challenges in providing real-time, accurate image stabilization and tool actuation during coronary angioplasty procedures, especially when dealing with cyclically moving organs, which can lead to difficulties in maintaining clear images and precise tool positioning.
Innovation Solution
The development of a method and apparatus for generating a road map of blood vessels, stabilizing images, and actuating medical tools in synchronization with the cyclic motion of the organ, using image processing techniques to enhance visibility and position tools accurately within the vasculature.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If real-time imaging is performed during cardiac catheterization, then diagnostic information is obtained, but image quality deteriorates due to cardiac motion
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by acquiring multiple pre-trigger frames before the R-wave detection and storing them in buffer memory. This preliminary acquisition allows the system to have image data ready before the actual cardiac event occurs, enabling motion compensation without delaying the diagnostic imaging process.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates multiple copies of image frames at different cardiac phases by storing pre-trigger frames in buffer memory and retrieving them based on detected R-wave timing. This copying approach allows the same anatomical structure to be visualized at multiple phases of the cardiac cycle, enabling selection of the optimal phase for diagnostic evaluation.
2Stability of the object's composition
If image frames are acquired continuously during cardiac cycle, then complete cardiac motion is captured, but image stabilization becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The system prepares for stabilization by continuously acquiring and buffering image frames before the triggered event. This preliminary buffering ensures that frames are ready for immediate retrieval and processing when the R-wave is detected, maintaining both continuous acquisition and effective stabilization.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from the ECG signal (R-wave detection) to control the retrieval and display of buffered frames. The detected R-wave triggers the retrieval of specific pre-acquired frames, creating a feedback loop that synchronizes image display with cardiac phase, thereby achieving stabilization while maintaining continuous acquisition.
3Productivity
If tool actuation is performed during cardiac motion, then procedural efficiency is improved, but positioning precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces mechanical timing methods with an electronic feedback mechanism using ECG signal detection. The R-wave detection provides precise electronic timing that triggers tool actuation at the optimal cardiac phase, improving both the precision of positioning and the efficiency of the procedure compared to mechanical timing methods.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses ECG feedback to determine the optimal timing for tool actuation. The detected R-wave serves as a feedback signal that triggers the actuation sequence, ensuring that tools are deployed at the precise moment when cardiac motion is most favorable for positioning, thereby improving both precision and efficiency.
4Reliability
If multiple image frames are processed for stabilization, then image quality improves, but processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary processing by continuously acquiring and buffering frames before the triggered event. This preliminary action allows multiple frames to be ready for processing without adding to the post-event processing time, as the frames are captured and stored in advance during normal continuous acquisition.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the number of frames processed based on the detected cardiac phase and clinical requirements. The buffering system allows flexible retrieval of any number of pre-acquired frames, enabling dynamic optimization between image quality and processing time based on real-time procedural needs.
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatus and methods are described for imaging a tool inside a portion of a subject's body that undergoes motion. A plurality of image frames are acquired of the portion of the subject's body. The image frames are image tracked by (a) automatically identifying at least a feature of the tool in at least a portion of the image frames, and (b) aligning the tool in image frames of the portion of the image frames, based on the automatic identifying. The image-tracked image frames of the portion of the subject's body are displayed as an image stream. Other embodiments are also described.