Moving Vascular Models for Blood Flow Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for analyzing blood flow using time-resolved Phase Contrast MRI are inefficient and prone to noise and anatomical motion, making accurate and timely vascular model generation and blood flow parameter derivation challenging, especially in clinical settings.
Innovation Solution
A method involving semi-automatic 3D vascular modeling combined with deformable image registration to generate moving vascular models, allowing for temporal tracking and accurate positioning of analysis planes, which improves the objectivity and reproducibility of blood flow parameter measurements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If single plane flow measurements are used, then the measurement process is simple, but the analysis becomes time consuming and lacks high reproducibility over time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from single-plane (2D) flow measurements to three-dimensional (3D) volumetric measurements by acquiring time-resolved phase contrast MRI data in multiple spatial dimensions. This enables comprehensive vascular analysis across the entire vessel lumen rather than limited to a single plane, significantly improving measurement reproducibility and analysis efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the vascular system into multiple discrete sampling locations along the vessel path. By dividing the continuous vascular structure into separate measurement zones, the system can perform parallel analysis at multiple locations simultaneously, improving productivity while maintaining operational simplicity through automated processing at each segment.
2Measurement precision
If three-dimensional time-resolved PC-MRI is used, then spatial and temporal coverage is improved, but noise and anatomical motion reduce analysis accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a deformable model of the vascular structure as an intermediary framework that accounts for anatomical motion and noise. This model serves as a reference that can be deformed to match actual anatomical variations across time, allowing accurate extraction of flow parameters despite the presence of motion artifacts and noise in the raw MRI data.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs iterative feedback mechanisms where the deformable model is continuously updated based on the time-resolved PC-MRI data. The model adapts to anatomical changes and motion patterns through feedback loops that compare predicted and actual vascular geometries, progressively improving analysis accuracy by compensating for noise and motion effects.
3Measurement precision
If accurate vascular boundary definition is achieved, then quantitative flow parameter derivation is improved, but the analysis process becomes more complex and time consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary action by pre-establishing a deformable vascular model before analyzing flow parameters. This model is prepared in advance with the appropriate geometric framework and deformation capabilities, so that during actual analysis, the system only needs to apply the model to the specific patient data rather than constructing it from scratch, reducing operational complexity while maintaining boundary definition accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a digital copy of the vascular structure through the deformable model that can be independently manipulated and analyzed. This virtual replica allows for accurate boundary definition and flow parameter calculation without repeatedly processing the complex raw MRI data, separating the complexity of data processing from the simplicity of parameter derivation through the pre-computed model.
4Loss of time
If real clinical setting feasibility is achieved, then timeliness is improved, but measurement precision may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous processing of the time-resolved PC-MRI data through automated algorithms that continuously extract flow parameters as the data is acquired and processed. This continuous action eliminates idle time between data acquisition and analysis, maintaining measurement precision while achieving real-time feasibility for clinical decision-making.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of deriving blood flow parameters from a moving three-dimensional (3D) model of a blood vessel includes determining a reference vascular cross-sectional plane through a location of a lumen in a moving 3D model of the blood vessel at one time within the model, determining a plurality of target vascular cross-sectional planes at multiple times via temporal tracking of the reference plane based on a displacement field, determining a plurality of contours based on an intersection of the target vascular cross-sectional planes with the moving 3D vessel model at multiple times within the model, and determining a blood flow parameter of the vessel from intersections of each contour of a given one of the times with a phase contrast magnetic resonance (PC-MRI) image of the blood vessel from the corresponding time.