Location-Based Medical Rendering for Focused 4D ICE Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
High-dimensional anatomical images, such as 3-D or 4-D ultrasound images of the heart, often overwhelm viewers with excessive visual information, making it difficult to distinguish features of interest from surrounding background tissues and fluids.
Innovation Solution
A catheter-based imaging system with a distal end assembly incorporating a 2D ultrasound array and position sensor captures and processes images to produce segregated or cropped images of anatomical structures of interest, using adjustable capturing parameters and position data to isolate the structure from its surroundings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If high-dimensional anatomical images (3-D or 4-D ultrasound) are used to capture comprehensive anatomical structures, then the completeness of anatomical information is improved, but the complexity of visual interpretation worsens due to excessive visual information overwhelming viewers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the high-dimensional anatomical image data by separating the anatomical structure of interest from surrounding background tissues and fluids. The processing system divides the volumetric dataset into relevant anatomical regions and suppresses or removes unrelated background elements, presenting only the segmented anatomical structure to the viewer. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining complete anatomical information while eliminating visual complexity through systematic segmentation of the image data.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the anatomical structure of interest from the complete high-dimensional dataset by identifying and isolating specific anatomical features while removing surrounding background tissues and fluids. The processing system extracts only the relevant anatomical information needed for diagnosis or treatment planning, discarding excessive visual information. This extraction process maintains information completeness for the target structure while reducing overall visual complexity.
2Area of stationary object
If comprehensive 3-D or 4-D ultrasound imaging is performed to visualize entire anatomical structures, then the coverage of anatomical features is improved, but the ability to distinguish features of interest from background tissues worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality enhancement by selectively processing different regions of the anatomical dataset with different quality levels. The anatomical structure of interest is enhanced with high visual quality and detail, while surrounding background tissues and fluids are suppressed or removed. This creates a non-uniform quality distribution where the important anatomical features have high visibility and detail, while background elements are minimized, thereby improving feature distinguishability while maintaining comprehensive coverage.
3Area of stationary object
If the field of view of the ultrasound transducer is expanded to capture more anatomical context, then the contextual information is improved, but the resolution and detail of specific structures of interest worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from 2-D display limitations to 3-D volumetric representation, allowing comprehensive anatomical context to be preserved in three dimensions while enabling selective high-resolution visualization of specific structures. The system maintains the full contextual information in the 3-D dataset while allowing users to focus on specific anatomical features with high resolution through selective rendering and background suppression techniques, effectively adding a dimensional solution to the resolution-context tradeoff.
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
Facilitates clear visualization of specific anatomical structures by diminishing surrounding tissues and fluids, enhancing the viewer's ability to focus on the structure of interest.
Implementation Method 1
The transducers emit ultrasound waves that are reflected from the surface of the cavity and are received again by the transducers
Implementation Method 2
AC magnetic signals of different frequencies are transmitted between points of known location outside of the patient's body and points on the medical device inside the patient's body
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods of location-based medical rendering that automatically generate improved renderings, such as 4D ICE imagery, of anatomical structures are disclosed. According to some embodiments methods include: obtaining images and position data from a catheter having a distal tip furnished with an ultrasound imaging device and a position sensor, process the position data of the ultrasound imaging device to determine a volumetric field of regard (FOR) of the imaging device in a patient's body; obtaining a model of at least a portion of a body anatomy present within the FOR; and utilizing the model to optionally: (i) adjust capturing parameters of the ultrasound imaging device based on the model to optimize capturing of a body anatomy of interest by the ultrasound imaging device with diminished appearance of its surrounding tissues; and/or (ii) crop images grabbed from the FOR of the imaging device to the body anatomy of interest.