IVUS and X-Ray Coregistration for Accurate Stent Expansion Assessment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing stent deployment procedures lack accurate methods to confirm correct placement and expansion within a vessel, relying solely on extraluminal images, which can lead to incorrect placement or insufficient expansion, affecting blood flow restoration and increasing complications.
Innovation Solution
The system co-registers intravascular data, such as IVUS images, with enhanced stent deployment x-ray images to provide a comprehensive view of stent positioning and expansion, using a processor circuit to superimpose IVUS data on stent-enhanced images, including markers and expansion scores.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If physicians rely solely on extraluminal images for stent deployment assessment, then the diagnostic process is simple and quick, but the accuracy of stent placement and expansion assessment deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines extraluminal x-ray imaging and intraluminal IVUS imaging into a single integrated system. The co-registration module merges data from both imaging modalities, allowing physicians to view stent deployment information from both extraluminal and intraluminal perspectives simultaneously, thereby improving assessment accuracy without requiring separate diagnostic procedures
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a co-registration module as an intermediary that processes and aligns data from both x-ray and IVUS imaging systems. This mediator component coordinates the different imaging datasets, matching anatomical landmarks and stent positions across modalities to enable accurate combined assessment while managing system complexity
2Measurement precision
If multiple imaging modalities are used to assess stent deployment, then the accuracy of placement confirmation improves, but the procedural time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables continuous acquisition of both x-ray and IVUS images throughout the stent deployment procedure. Rather than performing sequential imaging steps, the system continuously captures data from both modalities simultaneously, allowing real-time co-registration and assessment without interrupting the procedural flow, thereby maintaining high accuracy while minimizing additional time
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary co-registration of imaging modalities and prepares integrated visualizations before stent deployment is complete. By pre-aligning the imaging systems and having the co-registration framework ready in advance, the system eliminates time-consuming post-procedure alignment operations, enabling rapid accuracy assessment during the procedure itself
3Reliability
If only extraluminal imaging is used, then the imaging system remains simple, but the ability to detect stent expansion issues deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies intraluminal IVUS imaging specifically at the stent deployment location within the blood vessel, providing high-resolution local assessment of stent expansion and apposition to the vessel wall. This targeted intraluminal imaging complements the broader extraluminal x-ray view, enhancing reliability for detecting expansion issues precisely where needed without requiring complex imaging throughout the entire vascular system
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 accuracy of stent deployment by confirming correct placement and sufficient expansion, reducing procedure time and complications by integrating intraluminal and extraluminal data for precise vascular catheterization.
Implementation Method 1
an intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) imaging device may be pulled through the vessel and the stent while x-ray images of the stented region are acquired
Implementation Method 2
x-ray images of the vessel are acquired. The x-ray images are used to co-register the location of the stent
Data Source
AI summary
A system includes a processor circuit in communication with an extraluminal imaging device and an intraluminal imaging device. The processor circuit obtains an enhanced stent deployment extraluminal image and a plurality of intraluminal images. The enhanced stent deployment extraluminal image and the each of the plurality of intraluminal images are associated with locations along a pathway. The pathway is overlaid over an extraluminal image. Based on the locations of the pathway, the processor circuit coregisters the plurality of intraluminal images to the enhanced stent deployment extraluminal image and outputs a screen display of one of the plurality of intraluminal images and the enhanced stent deployment extraluminal image with an indicator identifying the location at which the displayed intraluminal image was obtained. The processor circuit may also determine an expansion score for intraluminal images depicting the stent and identify regions of the stent corresponding to an expansions score below a threshold.