Remote Intravascular Imaging Processing to Reduce Lab Clutter
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing intravascular diagnostic systems in catheterization labs face challenges with complex and expensive peripherals, limited space, and high data acquisition rates that are constrained by blood clearance requirements, leading to clutter and inefficiency in data processing.
Innovation Solution
A modular intravascular imaging system with a high-speed digital network connecting separate enclosures for data acquisition and processing units, allowing for interchangeable imaging systems and reducing clutter by positioning the processing unit remotely from the procedure environment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the data acquisition system is directly connected to the high-speed internal computer bus in the catheter lab, then the data transmission speed is sufficient to handle high data acquisition rates, but the system complexity and device clutter increase due to multiple peripherals and processing engines
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the processing engine from the catheter lab environment and places it in a remote location (e.g., server room or cloud). Only the essential data acquisition system remains in the catheter lab, connected via high-speed network infrastructure. This separation reduces device clutter and simplifies the local system while maintaining high data transmission capabilities through dedicated network connections.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a high-speed network infrastructure (switches, routers, optical fibers) as an intermediary between the data acquisition system in the catheter lab and the remote processing engine. This intermediary enables high-speed data transmission without requiring direct physical connection to the processing engine, thereby reducing local complexity while maintaining transmission speed.
2Speed
If the data acquisition system is directly connected to the high-speed internal computer bus in the catheter lab, then the data transmission speed is sufficient to handle high data acquisition rates, but the space requirements and clutter in the limited catheter lab environment increase
Solution Approach 1:
The processing engine is extracted from the catheter lab and relocated to a remote facility, eliminating the need for large equipment housings, multiple power supplies, and complex peripheral connections in the limited catheter lab space. Only the compact data acquisition system remains locally.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a co-located physical arrangement (all equipment in one space) to a distributed arrangement across different locations connected by network infrastructure. This dimensional shift allows high-speed data transmission without the space constraints of traditional local setups.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple peripherals and processing engines are used for intravascular imaging, then the diagnostic capability and functionality are enhanced, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The remote processing engine serves multiple functions: processing data from different imaging modalities (OCT, IVUS, angiography), performing various diagnostic analyses, and supporting multiple catheter systems. This universal processor replaces the need for dedicated processing engines for each imaging type, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining diagnostic versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple processing functions and peripherals into a single remote processing engine that handles all diagnostic data processing. This consolidation reduces the number of separate devices in the catheter lab while enhancing diagnostic capability through integrated multi-modal processing.
Data Source
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AI summary
The disclosure relates to a modular data acquisition and processing system for obtaining intravascular data, such as image data, for a patient. The modular system includes acquisition components in a patient procedure environment in communication with a processing engine in a remote environment. The remote processing engine may be used with different types of data acquisition systems. The modular system further includes a hub in the patient procedure environment, which maintain a persistent connection with the remote processing engine while enabling fast and reliable coupling to data acquisition components.