Intravascular Optical Imaging System ECG Triggering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Motion artefacts in coronary imaging caused by cardiac movement during the systolic phase of the heart cycle lead to inaccurate frame spacing and deformation in 3D visualization, compromising image quality and requiring longer imaging times with increased flush medium usage.
Innovation Solution
A high-speed optical imaging system with ECG-based triggering, utilizing a synchronous micro-motor for rapid circumferential scanning and a high-speed pullback system to complete imaging within one cardiac cycle, reducing motion artefacts and minimizing flush medium volume.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If imaging is performed during the systolic phase of the heart cycle, then image acquisition can be completed, but motion artefacts occur causing inaccurate frame spacing and deformation in 3D visualization
Solution Approach 1:
The imaging system is synchronized to the periodic cardiac cycle using ECG triggering. Imaging is initiated at a predetermined point in the cardiac cycle (e.g., diastole) and completed within one cardiac cycle, utilizing the periodic nature of heartbeats to consistently avoid motion artefacts while maintaining high imaging speed
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses ECG signal feedback to detect cardiac phase and dynamically control the imaging timing. The ECG trigger module detects R-waves and generates trigger signals that synchronize the imaging sequence with the cardiac cycle, providing real-time feedback to adjust frame spacing and eliminate motion-related deformations
2Manufacturing precision
If imaging time is extended to reduce motion artefacts, then image quality improves, but flush medium usage increases
Solution Approach 1:
By aligning the imaging sequence with the periodic cardiac cycle and completing acquisition within one cycle (typically 0.8-1.2 seconds), the system achieves high image quality without extending the total imaging time, thereby minimizing flush medium consumption to only what is needed for the brief imaging window
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary synchronization with the ECG signal before image acquisition begins. The trigger module detects the R-wave and pre-calculates the optimal imaging window, allowing the system to immediately start high-speed imaging at the correct cardiac phase without delay, thus reducing both imaging time and flush medium usage
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
The system achieves high-quality imaging within one cardiac cycle with reduced motion artefacts and lower flush medium requirements, maintaining adequate longitudinal sampling and improving image fidelity.
Implementation Method 1
optical coherence tomography (OCT) was first applied in intracoronary imaging in humans and showed promising capability as a powerful tool for diagnostic imaging for arterial wall pathologies
Data Source
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AI summary
A catheter-based optical imaging system for imaging a patient includes a catheter-based imaging device configured to direct optical radiation towards a vessel wall and to receive reflected radiation therefrom. A displacement mechanism is configured to vary the position of the imaging device relative to the catheter as a function of time during an imaging scan. An input is configured to receive cardiac event timing data, such as ECG data, from the patient. A trigger module is configured to initiate an imaging scan based on the cardiac event timing obtained from the cardiac event timing data. By triggering the optical imaging scans between cardiac events, artefacts in the image data can be reduced or eliminated.