Automatic Pullback Trigger for OCT Imaging Catheters
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current intravascular imaging techniques, such as OCT, face challenges in automatically triggering the pullback process to ensure clear imaging of blood vessel segments without excessive contrast agent usage, leading to inefficiencies and potential image quality issues due to reliance on manual user reaction times and complex parameter adjustments.
Innovation Solution
A method utilizing a processor to collect image data from a blood vessel lumen, determine changes in image intensity relative to a reference frame, and automatically trigger the pullback based on intensity changes, minimizing noise from non-blood features and reducing contrast overdosing by focusing on real-time, robust image processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual triggering of pullback is used, then the system is simple to operate, but the imaging timing is imprecise due to user reaction time delays
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical triggering with an automated optical detection system. Image intensity data from the OCT system is automatically analyzed by a processor to detect blood clearing events, eliminating the need for manual user intervention and reaction time delays. The system uses optical signal processing to automatically determine when to initiate pullback based on real-time imaging data.
2Reliability
If contrast agent is administered to clear blood for imaging, then image quality improves, but the risk of nephropathy increases with excessive contrast usage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the OCT imaging system continuously monitors blood clearing in real-time. Image intensity data is fed back to the control system, which automatically detects when the vessel lumen is sufficiently cleared of blood. This feedback loop enables precise control of the imaging window, ensuring contrast is used only as long as necessary to achieve diagnostic quality images, thereby minimizing nephropathy risk.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary detection of blood clearing status before initiating the pullback sequence. By analyzing image intensity data in advance and detecting the onset of blood clearing, the system prepares for optimal imaging timing, ensuring that pullback begins at the precise moment when contrast has sufficiently cleared the vessel lumen, maximizing image quality while minimizing contrast exposure time.
3Productivity
If fast pullback rates are used to image longer vessel segments, then productivity increases, but the time window for clear imaging decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic pullback rate adjustment based on real-time blood clearing detection. The system automatically modulates the pullback speed according to the detected clearing state, allowing faster rates when clearing is rapid and slower rates when clearing is gradual. This dynamic adaptation optimizes the balance between imaging productivity and image quality consistency across different vessel segments and patient anatomies.
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
This approach enables reliable and efficient automatic pullback triggering, ensuring timely and complete imaging of blood vessel segments with reduced contrast agent usage, improving image quality and reducing the risk of contrast-related complications.
Implementation Method 1
OCT is a technique for obtaining high resolution cross-sectional images of tissues or materials, and enables real time visualization. The aim of the OCT techniques is to measure the time delay of light by using an interference optical system or interferometry
Implementation Method 2
A light from a light source delivers and splits into a reference arm and a sample (or measurement) arm with a splitter. A sample beam is reflected or scattered from a sample in the sample arm
Data Source
AI summary
One or more devices, systems, methods, and storage mediums for optical imaging medical devices, such as, but not limited to, Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT), single mode OCT, and/or multi-modal OCT apparatuses and systems, and methods and storage mediums for use with same, for triggering auto-pullback, including for devices or systems using blood clearing, are provided herein. Examples of applications include imaging, evaluating and diagnosing biological objects, such as, but not limited to, for Gastro-intestinal, cardio and/or ophthalmic applications, and being obtained via one or more optical instruments, such as, but not limited to, optical probes, catheters, capsules and needles (e.g., a biopsy needle). Techniques provided herein also improve processing and imaging efficiency while achieving images that are more precise.