Medical Imaging Navigation Volume for Positionally Correct Guidance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medical imaging methods struggle to provide a positionally correct representation of non-anatomical structures during imaging examinations, particularly in vascular surgery, due to issues such as high radiation exposure, reliance on contrast agents, and the inability to maintain consistent 3D reconstructions amidst patient movement, leading to artifacts and increased costs.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the extraction of anatomical and non-anatomical structures from 3D and 2D images, using machine learning techniques to create a navigation volume by registering 3D images with coordinate transformations, allowing for real-time reconstruction and display of non-anatomical structures in correct positional relation to anatomical structures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If continuous sequential 3D X-ray exposures are performed to provide 4D interventional guidance, then the attending physician receives real-time 3D views of patient anatomy and intervention material, but the patient is exposed to very high radiation doses
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the imaging task into two parts: a low-dose 2D fluoroscopy mode for continuous monitoring and a high-dose 3D CT mode activated only when needed for detailed spatial assessment. This segmentation allows the system to provide 4D interventional guidance while minimizing radiation exposure by using 3D exposures only when the attending physician requires enhanced spatial information.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements periodic 3D CT exposures at selected time points during the intervention rather than continuous sequential exposures. The 3D imaging is triggered periodically or event-driven based on clinical needs, while 2D fluoroscopy provides continuous low-dose monitoring. This periodic action maintains the ability to provide 4D guidance while dramatically reducing cumulative radiation dose.
2Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If contrast agents are administered to make vascular structures visible, then the vascular system becomes visible on X-ray images, but the contrast agents can have toxic effects on the kidneys and are contraindicated in renal insufficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses 3D CT imaging as an intermediary to obtain detailed vascular anatomy without requiring contrast agents. The 3D CT scan provides comprehensive vascular structure information that can then be used for navigation and guidance throughout the procedure, eliminating or reducing the need for contrast agent administration and its associated renal toxicity risks.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary 3D CT imaging before the intervention to obtain complete vascular anatomy and plan the procedure. This preliminary action provides all necessary spatial information about vascular structures in advance, eliminating the need for repeated contrast agent administration during the procedure and allowing contrast-free imaging throughout the intervention.
3Loss of information
If multiple 2D X-ray projections are used to create 3D reconstructions, then complete 3D information is obtained, but a considerable amount of time and radiation dose is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the imaging protocol into a single rapid 3D CT acquisition for complete anatomical information and continuous low-dose 2D fluoroscopy for real-time monitoring. This segmentation obtains complete 3D information in one quick scan rather than through multiple sequential projections, dramatically reducing procedure time while maintaining full 3D capability when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses a single 3D CT acquisition (partial action) rather than multiple sequential projections (excessive action) to obtain complete 3D information. This single scan provides all necessary spatial data for navigation, and the system then relies on 2D fluoroscopy with image fusion techniques for continued guidance, reducing total imaging time and radiation dose.
4Measurement precision
If 3D reconstructions are performed continuously to maintain accurate spatial representation, then the attending physician receives updated 3D views, but movement artifacts occur and computational complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the imaging and processing workload into offline 3D CT reconstruction (performed once before or at the start of the procedure) and online 2D fluoroscopy with image fusion (performed continuously during the procedure). This segmentation avoids the computational burden of continuous 3D reconstructions while maintaining accurate spatial representation through pre-acquired 3D data combined with real-time 2D imaging and registration techniques.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs the computationally intensive 3D reconstruction in advance as a preliminary action, creating a complete 3D anatomical model before the intervention begins. This pre-acquired 3D data serves as a reference throughout the procedure, eliminating the need for repeated computationally complex reconstructions and avoiding movement artifacts by using stable pre-acquired data combined with real-time 2D guidance.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods for operating a medical imaging device for positionally correct representation of non-anatomical structures during an imaging examination may include providing a first 3D image containing at least one anatomical structure, extracting at least one anatomical model from the at least one anatomical structure, providing 2D update images recorded at different times, extracting non-anatomical and anatomical structures from subsets of the update images, calculating a non-anatomical 3D image from at least two partial reconstructions based on the extracted non-anatomical structures, reconstructing an anatomical 3D image based on the extracted anatomical structures, registering the anatomical 3D image with the first 3D image by determining a coordinate transformation, and creating a navigation volume from the anatomical model and the non-anatomical 3D image using the coordinate transformation.