Myocardial Blush Evaluation Using Static ROI Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for evaluating myocardial blush in tissue during coronary angiography are time-consuming and unreliable, especially when the heart is beating, as they require tracking moving anatomy and are sensitive to intensity outliers and blood vessel contributions.
Innovation Solution
A method using a static Region-of-Interest (ROI) with statistical techniques to eliminate intensity outliers and measure fluorescence intensity within a defined range, allowing for robust perfusion evaluation independent of ROI size and position, and tracking blood vessels through spline functions and edge-detection algorithms to assess perfusion changes over time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional digital subtraction angiography (DSA) methods are used to quantitatively characterize myocardial blush kinetics, then measurement precision can be achieved, but the evaluation process becomes extremely time-consuming and cannot be performed in real-time on a beating heart
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the image processing task by defining a static region of interest (ROI) that isolates the myocardium from blood vessels and other structures. This segmentation allows independent analysis of myocardial blush without tracking moving anatomy, dramatically reducing processing time while maintaining measurement precision through focused statistical analysis of the segmented region
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary action by pre-defining the static ROI based on anatomical landmarks before the contrast injection begins. This preliminary positioning of the ROI eliminates the need for real-time tracking during the actual blush evaluation, allowing rapid quantitative analysis to be performed on a beating heart without time-consuming motion compensation
2Reliability
If ROI tracking algorithms are used to follow moving myocardial tissue during heartbeats, then measurement reliability can be maintained, but computational complexity and processing time increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional approach by making the ROI static rather than tracking the moving myocardium. Instead of adapting the ROI to follow heart motion, the myocardium moves through the fixed ROI during the cardiac cycle. This inversion eliminates complex tracking algorithms while maintaining measurement reliability through statistical techniques that are insensitive to physiological motion
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies self-service by using statistical properties of the image data within the static ROI to automatically compensate for motion effects. The algorithm identifies and weights pixels based on their intensity consistency across frames, allowing the system to self-correct for motion without external intervention or complex tracking mechanisms
3Adaptability or versatility
If conventional image processing algorithms are used that track ROI during anatomy movement, then adaptability to heart motion is achieved, but the methods become sensitive to intensity outliers and blood vessel contributions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the harmful components (blood vessels and intensity outliers) from the analysis by using statistical techniques that identify and down-weight pixels with extreme or inconsistent intensity values. This extraction of problematic elements from the data set allows accurate blush measurement even when blood vessels move through the static ROI during heartbeats
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback through iterative statistical analysis that continuously evaluates pixel intensity consistency and adjusts weighting factors accordingly. Pixels demonstrating outlier behavior or inconsistent intensity patterns receive reduced weight in the final blush calculation, creating a self-correcting mechanism that maintains precision despite motion and vessel interference
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables rapid and reliable assessment of myocardial perfusion, providing accurate blush values and perfusion rates that are insensitive to cardiac motion and blood vessel interference, facilitating real-time monitoring during medical procedures.
Implementation Method 1
imaging with a fluorescent dye, such as ICG
Data Source
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AI summary
(EN) Vessel perfusion and myocardial blush are determined by analyzing fluorescence signals obtained in a static region-of-interest (ROI) in a collection of fluorescence images of myocardial tissue. The blush value is determined from the total intensity of the intensity values of image elements located within the smallest contiguous range of image intensity values containing a predefined fraction of a total measured image intensity of all image elements within the ROI. Vessel (arterial) peak intensity is determined from image elements located within the ROI that have the smallest contiguous range of highest measured image intensity values and contain a predefined fraction of a total measured image intensity of all image elements within the ROI. Also disclosed is a method for tracking a moving blood vessel to aid in assessing peak vessel intensity over time. Improvement in cardiac function can be established by comparing the time differential between the time of peak intensity in a blood vessel and that in a region of neighboring myocardial tissue both pre and post procedure.