Intravascular Image Co-Registration Using 3D Trajectory Reconstruction
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for co-registering intravascular images with X-ray angiographic images are prone to errors and increase patient X-ray exposure, as they often require additional X-ray fluoroscopy and are susceptible to foreshortening and out-of-plane magnification errors, which can lead to inaccurate length assessments during vascular interventions.
Innovation Solution
A method that performs co-registration using the 3D reconstruction of the intravascular device's trajectory from two angiography images, eliminating the need for vessel wall reconstruction and reducing X-ray exposure by utilizing fluoroscopic images without contrast agents, allowing for accurate length measurements and real-time feedback during interventions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If X-ray fluoroscopy is used during the complete pullback of the intravascular device to trace the transducer position, then the intravascular images can be correlated with angiographic views, but the patient receives additional X-ray exposure
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs 3D reconstruction of the vessel centerline from angiographic images before the intravascular pullback procedure. This preliminary 3D model is then used to guide and correlate the intravascular images without requiring continuous X-ray fluoroscopy during the actual pullback, thus reducing patient exposure while maintaining position correlation accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a 3D reconstructed vessel centerline model as an intermediary between the 2D angiographic images and the intravascular images. This 3D model serves as a reference framework that allows correlation of intravascular image positions with angiographic views without direct X-ray fluoroscopy during pullback
2Measurement precision
If two additional X-ray fluoroscopic images are used to identify the tip of the intravascular transducer for 3D reconstruction, then co-registration can be performed, but the patient receives additional X-ray exposure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and utilizes existing angiographic images that are already part of the standard interventional procedure. By using these pre-acquired angiographic images for 3D reconstruction instead of requiring additional fluoroscopic images, the system eliminates unnecessary X-ray exposure while maintaining the ability to perform accurate co-registration
3Ease of manufacture
If 2D segmentation of the vessel within X-ray angiographic images is used for 3D reconstruction, then the vessel centerline can be obtained, but errors in segmentation negatively influence the co-registration
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms where the 3D reconstructed centerline is continuously refined and validated against the actual intravascular image positions during pullback. This feedback loop allows for correction of segmentation errors and improves the overall accuracy of the co-registration process
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
Method for co-registration of angiography and intravascular images, which intravascular images are in the form of a sequence of images obtained from an intravascular imaging device which is pulled back through a vessel, the method comprising the following steps: a) generating a three-dimensional reconstruction of the trajectory of the intravascular device within the vessel from two or more bi-dimensional angiography images of such vessel which have been obtained from different perspectives; b) determining a first position of an element of the device within the 3D reconstruction of the trajectory; c) correlating the position of such element with a correspondent point in the reconstructed trajectory during pull back; d) correlating each intravascular image of the sequence with a corresponding spatial position within at least one of the bi-dimensional angiography images. A corresponding system and computer program are also disclosed.