Intravascular Ultrasound Imaging Core with Periodic Pulse Sequences
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) systems have limited ability to detect early neotissue growth and vulnerable plaques due to limited spatial resolution and contrast between blood and non-blood tissues, which complicates the assessment of stent healing and plaque rupture risk.
Innovation Solution
An IVUS imaging system with a catheter that transmits ultrasonic energy pulses in sequences with varying characteristics, such as pulse energy, frequency, or bandwidth, and processes reflected pulses to generate composite images that improve contrast and spatial resolution without requiring co-registration of multiple images, using transducers with large fractional bandwidths and high sensitivities across useful bandwidths.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If imaging frequency is increased to improve spatial resolution, then spatial resolution is improved, but contrast between blood and non-blood tissue is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses periodic pulse sequences with varying characteristics (energy, frequency, or bandwidth) to acquire multiple images under different conditions. This periodic variation allows the system to capture both high-resolution and high-contrast information across different pulse iterations, resolving the trade-off between spatial resolution and tissue contrast.
Solution Approach 2:
The imaging system changes ultrasound parameters (energy, frequency, bandwidth) between pulses within a sequence. By varying these parameters periodically and processing the resulting images, the system can optimize for both spatial resolution and contrast in different pulses, then combine them to achieve both qualities simultaneously.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple transducers are used to achieve multi-frequency imaging, then imaging capabilities are improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
A single transducer is designed to operate across multiple frequency bands and respond to pulses with varying characteristics. This universal transducer can perform multiple imaging functions (different frequencies, bandwidths, energies) without requiring separate dedicated transducers for each function, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining multi-frequency imaging capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system combines multiple imaging functions into a single transducer and pulse sequence framework. Instead of using separate transducers for different frequencies, the invention merges these capabilities into one transducer that can be excited with varied pulse characteristics, simplifying the overall device architecture.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple transducers are used for multi-frequency imaging, then imaging capabilities are improved, but co-registration complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges multi-frequency imaging into a single coordinate system by using one transducer that acquires all frequency data from the same physical position. This eliminates the need for complex co-registration between multiple transducers, as all images are inherently aligned in the same reference frame.
4Measurement precision
If high imaging frequency is used, then spatial resolution is improved, but system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses periodic pulse sequences where only certain pulses operate at high frequency for resolution-critical measurements, while other pulses use lower frequencies for general imaging. This periodic high-frequency operation reduces overall system complexity compared to continuously operating at high frequency, while still achieving high spatial resolution when needed.
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
Enhances the ability to detect stent healing and vulnerable plaques by improving spatial resolution and contrast, facilitating better segmentation of blood and non-blood tissues, and reducing system and catheter complexity and cost.
Implementation Method 1
The imaging core is arranged to transmit ultrasonic energy pulses and to receive reflected ultrasonic energy pulses
Data Source
AI summary
An intravascular ultrasound imaging system comprises a catheter having an elongated body having a distal end and an imaging core arranged to be inserted into the elongated body. The imaging core is arranged to transmit ultrasonic energy pulses and to receive reflected ultrasonic energy pulses. The system further includes an imaging engine coupled to the imaging core and arranged to provide the imaging core with energy pulses to cause the imaging core to transmit the ultrasonic energy pulses. The energy pulses are arranged in repeated sequences and the energy pulses of each sequence have varying characteristics. The reflected pulses may be processed to provide a composite image of images resulting from each different characteristic.