3D Lung Airway Rendering for Catheter Navigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional visualization methods using 2D images and MIP for navigating catheters in 3D lung environments often obscure lesions behind bones or non-soft tissue, making it difficult to accurately guide catheters to target locations during procedures like electromagnetic navigation bronchoscopy.
Innovation Solution
A system that applies two separate filters to a 3D volume rendering of lung airways and lesions, isolating airway and lesion tissue while eliminating obstacles like bones, using transfer functions to generate a clear view from the catheter's perspective, allowing for accurate navigation and alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional 2D images and MIP are used for navigation, then the navigation system is simple to operate, but lesions are obscured behind bones or non-soft tissue making accurate guidance difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from traditional 2D CT images and maximum intensity projection (MIP) to a three-dimensional volume rendering approach. This dimensional change allows lesions to be visualized in 3D space, enabling the system to look through or around obstructing structures like bones, thereby improving lesion visibility and navigation accuracy without being constrained by the limitations of 2D visualization.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies transfer functions with different voxel density thresholds to different spatial regions relative to the catheter position. A first transfer function with a first voxel density is applied to a first range from the catheter, and a second transfer function with a second voxel density is applied to a second range. This local differentiation allows optimization of tissue visualization in different zones, improving lesion detection while managing the complexity of the visualization system.
2Measurement precision
If multiple transfer functions with different voxel densities are applied to different ranges, then lesion visibility is improved, but the processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the 3D volume into multiple ranges from the catheter position, with each range processed by a dedicated transfer function with appropriate voxel density thresholds. This segmentation allows the system to handle different tissue types and densities in different spatial zones independently, improving lesion detection accuracy while breaking down the complex processing task into manageable segments that can be executed efficiently.
Data Source
AI summary
A system for navigating to a catheter to a target is disclosed. The system includes a probe and a workstation. The probe is configured to be navigated through a patient's airways and includes a location sensor. The workstation is in operative communication with the probe. The workstation includes a memory and at least one processor. The memory stores a navigation plan and a program that, when executed by the processor, is configured to generate a 3D rendering of the patient's airways, generate a view using the 3D rendering, and display the view featuring at least a portion of the navigation plan. Generating the view includes executing a first transfer function for a first range from a distal tip of the location sensor and executing a second transfer function for a second range from the distal tip of the location sensor.