Neural Network 3D Visualization for Catheter Position and Orientation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Atrial fibrillation ablation procedures face challenges in accurately navigating an ablation catheter to the pulmonary veins due to difficulties in understanding the catheter's orientation and position relative to the 3D anatomy of the heart, especially when using intracardiac echocardiography.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus and method utilizing neural networks to visualize the catheter's position and orientation within a 3D model by extracting neural network encodings from query images and matching them with synthetic images in a repository, enabling precise visualization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If intracardiac echocardiography is used to confirm catheter positioning, then real-time imaging is achieved, but understanding of catheter orientation and position relative to 3D anatomy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary system consisting of a 3D model of the heart anatomy and a query image repository that acts as a mediator between the ICE images and the operator. The query image, generated from the 3D model at the estimated catheter position and orientation, serves as an intermediary representation that bridges the gap between the 2D ICE image and the 3D anatomical context, making it easier to understand catheter positioning without sacrificing real-time imaging capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms the problem from 2D image interpretation to 3D spatial understanding by generating a query image from a 3D model. The query image is created by rendering the 3D anatomical model from the estimated catheter position and orientation, effectively adding a third dimension to the interpretation process. This allows operators to visualize the catheter's position and orientation in the context of 3D anatomy, resolving the difficulty of understanding spatial relationships while maintaining real-time imaging
2Adaptability or versatility
If experience-dependent manual interpretation is used, then procedural flexibility is maintained, but procedure time and learning curve increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-service by automatically estimating the catheter position and orientation from the ICE image without requiring extensive manual interpretation by the operator. The processor automatically queries the image repository, compares images, and generates the query image, reducing the time and expertise required while maintaining procedural flexibility. The operator simply needs to provide rough estimates of catheter position, and the system handles the complex interpretation automatically
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-generating a repository of images from the 3D model at various possible catheter positions and orientations before the actual procedure. This pre-computed query image repository allows for rapid comparison and matching during the procedure, eliminating the need for time-consuming real-time 3D rendering and reducing procedure time while maintaining adaptability to different anatomical variations
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatus for visualization within a three-dimensional (3D) model and methods used therein are described, wherein the apparatus includes a processor and a memory communicatively connected to the processor, wherein the memory includes instructions configuring the processor to receive a query image, extract neural network encodings from the received query image, query a synthetic image repository for at least a matching synthetic image, and display an estimated position and orientation within the 3D model, wherein the synthetic image repository includes a plurality of synthetic images and their extracted neural network encodings, each synthetic image therein corresponds to a slice extracted at a specific position and orientation in the 3D model, and querying the synthetic image repository includes comparing the extracted neural network encodings between the query image and synthetic images.