Motion-Aware Vascular Viewing Angles to Reduce Vessel Overlap
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for determining viewing angles for vascular projection X-ray imaging assume static vasculature, failing to account for cardiac and respiratory motions, leading to sub-optimal and misleading images due to vessel overlaps and foreshortening.
Innovation Solution
A system that uses volumetric data to determine viewing angles based on simulated motion of the vascular region, optimizing for reduced vessel overlap and foreshortening by analyzing simulated shapes at different points in time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If standard viewing angles are used for acquiring projection X-ray images, then the imaging process is simplified and faster, but the accuracy of vascular representation deteriorates due to vessel overlaps and foreshortening
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary 3D reconstruction of the vascular anatomy from multiple projection images before acquiring the final diagnostic projection images. This preliminary 3D model is used to determine optimal viewing angles that avoid vessel overlaps and foreshortening, thereby resolving the contradiction by preparing the optimal imaging parameters in advance.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the viewing angles based on the patient's specific vascular anatomy as revealed by the 3D reconstruction. Instead of using fixed standard viewing angles, the system adapts the projection angles to the individual patient's vascular geometry, optimizing both accuracy and imaging efficiency.
2Measurement precision
If viewing angles are manually optimized based on acquired projection images, then the vascular representation accuracy improves, but the time required for determination increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system creates a 3D digital copy (virtual model) of the patient's vascular anatomy from initial projection images. This virtual model serves as a template for simulating and evaluating different viewing angles, eliminating the need for time-consuming manual trial-and-error optimization of projection angles while maintaining high accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces the manual mechanical adjustment of viewing angles by physicians with an automated computer-based simulation system. The computer automatically evaluates multiple viewing angles using the 3D vascular model and selects the optimal angles, substituting human time and effort with automated computational analysis.
3Device complexity
If static 3D models are used for determining viewing angles, then the determination process is simpler, but the accuracy deteriorates due to unaccounted vascular motion
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates periodic cardiac motion into the 3D vascular model by simulating the vascular anatomy at multiple phases of the cardiac cycle. This allows the determination of viewing angles that remain optimal throughout the cardiac motion, accounting for the periodic nature of heartbeats without requiring excessively complex continuous motion modeling.
Data Source
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AI summary
A system (100) for providing a viewing angle for acquiring projection data of a vascular region, is disclosed. The system includes one or more processors (110) configured to receive volumetric data (120) representing the vascular region (130). The one or more processors (110) are also configured to determine, using the volumetric data (120), and based on a simulated motion (140) of the vascular region (130) and/or based on a motion of the vascular region (130) represented within the volumetric data (120), a value of a viewing angle for acquiring projection data (150) representing the vascular region (130). The one or more processors (110) are also configured to output the value of the viewing angle.