Endovascular Roadmap Image Artifact Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current roadmapping techniques for endovascular interventions suffer from artifacts caused by moving interventional devices, which occlude the visualization of the treatment area, especially when motion occurs due to breathing, and restrict acquisition protocols and dosage.
Innovation Solution
An imaging system and method that acquire x-ray images with and without contrast agent, subtracting the images to create a roadmap image that automatically minimizes the visibility of interventional devices, using techniques like in-painting and filtering to remove device footprints, allowing for a clear visualization of anatomy without device occlusion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If a mask image is created by subtracting a non-injected frame from an injected frame to visualize vessels, then vessel visualization is improved, but interventional devices generate artifacts that occlude the treatment area
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the interventional device footprint from the subtracted roadmap image through image processing techniques. The device mask is generated by detecting radio-opaque structures in the non-injected frame, then this mask is used to eliminate device artifacts from the final roadmap, separating the harmful device signals from the useful vessel information.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary device mask as a mediator between the injected and non-injected frames. This mask image, generated from the non-injected frame by detecting radio-opaque devices, serves as a filtering layer that removes device artifacts from the subtracted roadmap without affecting the vessel visualization.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If the same acquisition protocol and dosage are used for both angiogram and fluoroscopy to avoid device artifacts, then device artifact reduction is achieved, but contrast agent dosage is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts device artifact information from the non-injected frame and removes it from the roadmap image. By using the non-injected frame to create a device mask and subtracting this mask from the final roadmap, the system eliminates device artifacts without requiring identical acquisition protocols for angiogram and fluoroscopy, thus avoiding increased contrast agent dosage.
3Adaptability or versatility
If motion occurs due to breathing during image acquisition, then anatomical changes are captured, but mask image quality deteriorates with artifacts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the non-injected frame as an intermediary reference that captures anatomical changes due to breathing. By detecting radio-opaque devices in this motion-captured frame and using it to generate a device mask, the system adapts to anatomical motion while maintaining mask image quality, as the device positions are accurately recorded even during breathing motion.
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
The system provides a device-free roadmap image that enhances the visibility of the treatment area, reducing artifacts and allowing for optimal visualization of anatomy during endovascular interventions, such as aneurism treatment and stent placement, without the need for user interaction.
Implementation Method 1
an x-ray imaging device (3) for acquiring x-ray images
Implementation Method 2
The calculation unit (5) is adapted for creating a roadmap image by subtracting the first x-ray image from the second x-ray image
Data Source
AI summary
A system (1) and a corresponding method enable an enhanced roadmapping visualization without unnecessary device-footprints. The system (1) includes an x-ray imaging device (3) for acquiring x-ray images and a calculation unit (5). The x-ray imaging device (3) is adapted for acquiring a first x-ray image (21) with an interventional device (17) present in the vessels (19) while no contrast agent is present in the vessels (19) and a second x-ray image (23) with the interventional device (17) present in the vessels (19) while contrast agent is present in the vessels (19). The calculation unit is adapted for creating a roadmap image (27) by subtracting the first x-ray image (21) from the second x-ray image (23) and automatically minimizing the visibility of the interventional device (17) in the roadmap image (27). A display unit (7) is adapted to display the roadmap image (27) or an overlay of a current fluoroscopy image (31) with the roadmap image (27).