Plaque Growth Prediction via Sequential WSS Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods struggle to predict the future condition of plaques in blood vessels, particularly in predicting plaque growth over extended periods, such as two years, relying heavily on wall shear stress (WSS) calculations from medical image data.
Innovation Solution
An analysis device and system that processes medical image data to extract blood vessel and plaque shapes, calculates mechanical indices, and predicts plaque shape at a future time based on WSS, displaying the predicted shape when specific conditions are met.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If WSS calculations are performed using medical image data to predict plaque growth, then prediction capability is improved, but prediction accuracy for distant future remains insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs multiple sequential WSS calculations at different intermediate time points (e.g., 6 months, 1 year, 2 years) before the final prediction target. Each calculation uses updated plaque shape information from the previous time point to progressively predict future plaque conditions, enabling accurate distant future prediction by breaking down the long-term prediction into manageable sequential steps
2Measurement precision
If sequential WSS calculations are performed at multiple time points, then distant future prediction accuracy is improved, but computational complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the long-term prediction process into multiple sequential segments or time points (e.g., T0, T1, T2, T3 representing different time stages). Each segment performs a WSS calculation for a specific time interval, using the results from the previous segment as input. This segmentation transforms a single complex long-term prediction into multiple simpler short-term predictions, improving overall accuracy while making the computational process more manageable
3Measurement precision
If multiple simulation calculations are performed to predict plaque shape, then prediction accuracy is improved, but processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent maintains continuous iterative calculations where each WSS computation builds upon the results of the previous time point. The system continuously updates plaque shape predictions by performing sequential simulations at multiple time points, ensuring that each calculation contributes to the final accurate prediction. This continuous iterative process optimizes the balance between computational effort and prediction accuracy by maintaining an unbroken chain of useful computational actions
Data Source
AI summary
An analysis device according to an embodiment includes processing circuitry. The processing circuitry extracts, from medical image data, the shape of a blood vessel of a subject and the shape of a plaque formed in the blood vessel. Then, while changing a first-type timing in sequence, the processing circuitry calculates a mechanical index, which is related to the plaque at the first-type timing, based on the shape of the blood vessel and the shape of the plaque at the first-type timing. Subsequently, based on the mechanical index at the first-type timing, the processing circuitry predicts the shape of the plaque at a second-type timing that is the next timing to the first-type timing. Then, the processing circuitry displays, in a display unit, the predicted shape of the plaque at the time second-type at which the plaque reaches a specific condition.