Medical Image Stabilization Using Road Map Overlay
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current medical imaging technologies face challenges in providing real-time, accurate image stabilization and tool actuation during coronary angioplasty procedures, especially when dealing with cyclically moving organs, which hinders precise navigation and measurement of blood vessels.
Innovation Solution
The development of a method and apparatus for generating a road map of blood vessels, stabilizing images, and actuating medical tools in synchronization with the cyclic motion of the organ, using image processing techniques to enhance visibility and position tools accurately within the vasculature.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If real-time image processing is performed to stabilize images during coronary angioplasty, then image stability and measurement precision are improved, but processing time and computational complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-processes and stores a road map image showing the anatomical structure of blood vessels before the actual procedure. This preliminary image is then used as a reference during real-time imaging, allowing the system to quickly compare and stabilize live images without performing complex processing on every frame, thus maintaining measurement precision while reducing processing time
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a copy of the anatomical structure from pre-acquired images (road map) and uses this copied reference to stabilize and guide real-time imaging. By working with the copied road map rather than processing every raw live image frame, the system achieves stable measurements with reduced computational burden and faster processing
2Loss of information
If image processing techniques are used to enhance visibility of blood vessels, then visibility and navigation accuracy are improved, but device complexity and processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges the pre-acquired road map image showing blood vessel anatomy with real-time fluoroscopic images during the procedure. By combining these two image sources, the system enhances visibility of blood vessels and improves navigation accuracy without requiring complex processing of a single image stream, as the merged overlay provides complementary information from both sources
Solution Approach 2:
The road map serves as an intermediary image that mediates between the anatomical structure and the real-time imaging system. This intermediate reference image facilitates enhanced visibility and accurate navigation by providing a stable anatomical framework that simplifies the processing requirements compared to attempting to extract all information from raw live images alone
3Measurement precision
If medical tools are actuated in synchronization with cyclic motion of organs, then positioning accuracy is improved, but control system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses feedback from the road map image and real-time image comparison to monitor the position of medical tools relative to the anatomical structure. By continuously comparing tool position against the stable road map reference and adjusting accordingly, the system achieves high positioning accuracy with a control mechanism that relies on image feedback rather than complex mechanical synchronization systems
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical synchronization systems with an image-based guidance approach. Instead of mechanically synchronizing tool actuation with cyclic organ motion through complex mechanical linkages, the system uses image processing and visual feedback from the road map to guide tool positioning, substituting mechanical complexity with computational imaging methods
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatus and methods are described, including, using an imaging device, acquiring a plurality of images of a portion of a body of a subject. Using a processor, a first feature within each of the images is aligned. At least one enhanced image that is enhanced with respect to the first feature is generated, using the aligned images. Visibility of a second feature is reduced in the enhanced image, and the at least one image that is enhanced with respect to the first feature is displayed upon a display. Other applications are also described.