IVUS-Angiogram Co-Registration for Plaque-Guided Stent Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional intravascular imaging systems require manual correlation of intravascular tissue morphological assessments with angiograms, leading to tedious and time-consuming procedures, underutilization of tissue classification, and increased risk of geographic misses during interventions.
Innovation Solution
A processor circuit co-registers intravascular imaging data, such as IVUS, with extravascular images like angiograms, automatically identifying plaque components and marking locations that satisfy specific criteria on the extravascular image, enhancing accuracy and efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual correlation of intravascular tissue morphological assessments with angiograms is performed, then the physician can gather information from both images, but the procedure becomes tedious and time consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs automatic co-registration of intravascular imaging data with angiograms before the physician needs to analyze the images. The processor circuit automatically aligns the two imaging modalities based on anatomical landmarks and spatial coordinates, preparing the combined view in advance so the physician can immediately interpret the correlated images without manual alignment steps
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a digital copy of the intravascular tissue morphology data and overlays it onto the angiogram image. The processor circuit generates a composite image where tissue classification information from IVUS/OCT is mapped onto the corresponding anatomical locations in the angiogram, allowing simultaneous visualization without requiring physical manipulation of multiple images
2Loss of information
If conventional systems display intravascular images separately from angiograms, then tissue morphology information is preserved, but the physician must frequently switch between different views to correlate findings
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges intravascular imaging data with angiogram images into a single integrated display. The processor circuit co-registers the two modalities and presents them in a unified view where tissue morphology overlays are displayed directly on the angiogram at the corresponding anatomical locations, eliminating the need to switch between separate views while preserving all diagnostic information
Solution Approach 2:
The system adds a new dimension of information display by overlaying cross-sectional tissue morphology data onto the two-dimensional angiogram. The processor circuit maps the radial and axial tissue characteristics from intravascular imaging onto the longitudinal angiogram view, creating a multi-dimensional visualization that correlates structural anatomy with tissue composition without requiring separate image windows
3Measurement precision
If manual identification of correlation landmarks is required, then the system can establish spatial relationships, but the procedure becomes more complex and time consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-service co-registration by automatically identifying anatomical landmarks and establishing spatial relationships between intravascular and angiogram images. The processor circuit uses algorithms to detect vessel contours, bifurcations, and other anatomical features in both imaging modalities and automatically computes the transformation matrix to align them, eliminating the need for manual landmark identification by the physician
Data Source
AI summary
A system is provided that includes a processor circuit in communication with an intravascular imaging catheter. The processor circuit is operable to: receive an intravascular imaging signal; perform, tissue characterization to identify a plaque component of the blood vessel; generate an intravascular image; receive an extravascular image of a blood vessel; co-register the intravascular image and the extravascular image to associate the intravascular image with a location of the blood vessel in the extravascular image; determine, if a spatial distribution of the plaque component within the intravascular image satisfies a criterion associated with the spatial distribution; and when the spatial distribution satisfies the criterion, output a screen display comprising: the extravascular image; and a first indicator at the location of the blood vessel in extravascular image. The first indicator is representative of the spatial distribution of the plaque component. Associated methods and devices are also provided.