Implanted Lead Orientation Detection Using Imaging Markers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing implantable medical devices face challenges in accurately determining the orientation of patient-implanted leads, which affects the efficacy and precision of electrical stimulation therapy by impacting the targeting of specific patient tissue or anatomy.
Innovation Solution
The system determines the orientation of implanted leads by leveraging image hyperintensive regions from orientation markers on the leads, using processing circuitry to analyze patient images and align lead features with image artifacts, enabling accurate positioning and selection of electrodes for targeted stimulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If lead orientation is determined using image hyperintensive regions from orientation markers, then measurement precision of lead orientation is improved, but device complexity increases due to requiring image processing systems and processing circuitry
Solution Approach 1:
Orientation markers are pre-positioned on the lead at specific locations during manufacturing. These markers create predictable hyperintensive regions in images, allowing the processing circuitry to determine lead orientation by detecting these pre-established visual cues rather than analyzing complex lead geometry in real-time.
Solution Approach 2:
The orientation markers serve as intermediaries between the lead and the imaging system. Instead of directly analyzing the lead structure, the system detects the hyperintensive regions created by the markers, which mediate the orientation information in a simplified, detectable form.
2Measurement precision
If hyperintensive regions are used to determine lead orientation, then detection precision of lead position is improved, but difficulty of detecting and measuring increases due to requiring image analysis algorithms
Solution Approach 1:
The orientation markers create hyperintensive regions that appear as distinct bright areas in the images. This intensity variation provides a clear visual signature that the processing circuitry can detect and analyze to determine lead orientation, transforming the measurement problem into a simpler intensity-based detection task.
3Adaptability or versatility
If lead orientation determination is performed post-implantation using imaging, then adaptability of therapy programming is improved, but loss of time occurs during image acquisition and analysis
Solution Approach 1:
The orientation markers are pre-installed on the lead before implantation, and their hyperintensive region signatures are predetermined. During post-implantation programming, the processing circuitry can quickly acquire images and rapidly analyze the characteristic marker patterns, reducing the time required compared to analyzing complex lead geometry or performing trial-and-error therapy programming.
Data Source
AI summary
A system includes memory configured to store image content representative of a lead implanted within a patient, and processing circuitry. The processing circuitry is configured to determine a reference point in the image content, determine a plane in the image content that corresponds to an orientation marker based on the reference point, determine an orientation of the lead based on the determined plane, and output information indicative of the determined orientation.