Intravascular Imaging Multiple Pullback Rates
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional intravascular imaging systems require extensive time and data storage for capturing images during pullbacks, with most images capturing healthy vasculature that is not significant to diagnosis, leading to inefficiencies in identifying and inspecting regions of interest.
Innovation Solution
Intravascular imaging systems employing multiple linear rates of pullback, where a faster survey pullback rate is used to cover large areas and a slower inspection pullback rate is applied to focus on identified regions of interest, reducing the overall imaging time and data storage requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a single slow pullback rate is used to capture detailed images of all vasculature, then image quality and diagnostic coverage are improved, but imaging time and data storage requirements increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the pullback rate based on the imaging context: using a first pullback rate for survey imaging and a second, slower pullback rate for detailed inspection of regions of interest. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to optimize between speed and image quality in different operational phases, reducing overall imaging time while maintaining diagnostic quality where needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The imaging process is segmented into two distinct phases: survey imaging and detailed inspection. During survey imaging, a faster pullback rate captures overall vasculature at a lower resolution, while during detailed inspection of identified regions of interest, a slower pullback rate captures high-quality images. This segmentation eliminates the need to image entire vasculature at high resolution, reducing total imaging time and data storage requirements.
2Measurement precision
If a single slow pullback rate is used to capture detailed images of all vasculature, then diagnostic coverage is improved, but data storage requirements increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The imaging process is segmented into survey and detailed inspection phases. Only regions of interest identified during survey imaging are imaged at high resolution during the detailed inspection phase. This segmentation ensures that high-quality images are captured only where diagnostically necessary, significantly reducing the total volume of data that must be stored while maintaining complete diagnostic coverage of all vasculature.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies different image quality levels to different regions of the vasculature based on diagnostic needs. Regions of interest receive high-resolution imaging with slower pullback rates, while non-critical regions are captured at lower resolution with faster pullback rates. This local quality differentiation maintains diagnostic coverage while minimizing unnecessary high-resolution data storage.
3Productivity
If a fast pullback rate is used to reduce imaging time, then productivity is improved, but image quality and diagnostic value deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The pullback rate is dynamically adjusted based on the imaging phase and region being imaged. During survey imaging, a fast pullback rate maximizes productivity and imaging speed. During detailed inspection of regions of interest, the pullback rate slows down to ensure high image quality and diagnostic value. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction by allowing both fast and slow imaging in appropriate contexts.
Solution Approach 2:
The imaging process is divided into survey imaging and detailed inspection segments. The survey segment uses fast pullback rates to quickly cover large areas, improving productivity. The detailed inspection segment uses slow pullback rates to capture high-quality images of specific regions, ensuring diagnostic value. This segmentation allows the system to achieve both high productivity and high image quality in different phases.
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
This approach significantly reduces the time and data needed for imaging procedures by prioritizing regions of interest, enhancing diagnostic efficiency and minimizing unnecessary data capture.
Implementation Method 1
The pulse generator in the control module generates electrical pulses that are delivered to the one or more transducers and transformed to acoustic pulses that are transmitted through patient tissue. Reflected pulses of the transmitted acoustic pulses are absorbed by the one or more transducers and transformed to electric pulses.
Implementation Method 2
OCT uses optical signals to image patient tissue. Optical signals emitted from an OCT system are reflected from patient tissue and collected and processed by the OCT system to form an image.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method of performing an intravascular imaging procedure includes inserting an imager at a first end of a survey region of patient vasculature to be imaged. The survey region is imaged to obtain a set of first images while pulling back the imager from the first end of the survey region to a second end of the survey region opposite the first end. The imager is pulled back at a first linear rate of pullback. The imager is positioned at a first end of a region of interest determined within the survey region. The region of interest is imaged to obtain a set of second images. The region of interest is imaged while pulling back the imager at a second linear rate of pullback that is less than the first linear rate of pullback. At least a portion of the set of second images is displayed.