Intraluminal Vessel Diameter Estimation for Concave Lumen Geometry
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing intraluminal imaging systems face challenges in accurately measuring vessel diameters, particularly in complex geometries such as concave cross sections, leading to inaccurate stent sizing due to the assumption of convex contours.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for deriving vessel diameter measurements based on geometric features like lumen boundaries, cross-sectional area, and volume, using circular geometry assumptions to calculate intrinsic diameters, which can be used for stent sizing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If convex contour assumption is used for vessel diameter measurement, then measurement process is simplified, but measurement precision deteriorates in concave geometries
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the measurement parameters from direct diameter measurements (which assume convexity) to geometric descriptors including perimeter, area, and curvature. These parameters can accurately represent both convex and concave vessel geometries without simplifying assumptions, thereby maintaining measurement precision while keeping the process manageable through automated calculation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent moves from one-dimensional diameter measurements to two-dimensional geometric characterization by incorporating perimeter, area, and curvature calculations. This dimensional expansion allows accurate representation of complex concave vessel shapes that cannot be adequately described by simple diameter values alone.
2Measurement precision
If complex contour point combinations are used for accurate measurement, then measurement precision improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and emphasizes the most informative geometric parameters (perimeter, area, curvature) from the complete set of contour point data. By focusing on these key extracted parameters rather than processing all contour points through complex combinations, the system achieves accurate vessel characterization while reducing computational complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary geometric calculations of perimeter, area, and curvature directly from the contour data before attempting any diameter estimation. This preliminary action establishes accurate baseline measurements that guide subsequent diameter calculations, ensuring precision without requiring complex post-processing of contour points.
3Ease of operation
If direct diameter measurement is used, then measurement process is simple, but reliability deteriorates in concave geometries
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces intermediate geometric parameters (perimeter, area, curvature) as mediators between the raw contour data and the final diameter measurement. These intermediaries provide reliable information about the vessel geometry that feeds into more robust diameter estimation algorithms, improving stent sizing reliability while maintaining operational simplicity through automated computation.
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
Provides accurate and efficient vessel diameter measurements, enabling optimal stent sizing without the need for complex contour point combinations, particularly in concave geometries, improving clinical outcomes.
Implementation Method 1
The transducers emit ultrasonic energy and receive ultrasound echoes reflected from the vessel
Implementation Method 2
receive ultrasound echoes reflected from the vessel
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is an intraluminal imaging system, including an intraluminal imaging catheter or guidewire configured to be positioned within an anatomy of a patient, and a processor circuit in communication with the imaging catheter or guidewire, wherein the processor circuit is configured to receive a plurality of cross-sectional images of the anatomy from the imaging catheter or guidewire. The processor is further configured to compute, using image processing of at least one of the cross-sectional images, a value of the anatomy, estimate a cross-sectional shape of the anatomy to be circular, calculate a diameter of the anatomy based on the computed value and the estimated circular shape, and output the diameter of the anatomy to a display.