Spatio-Temporal Subtraction for Vascular Structure Visualization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current digital subtraction angiography (DSA) techniques face challenges in reducing motion artifacts, particularly from breathing and bowel gas motion, which degrade the quality of vascular structure visualization and diagnostic value.
Innovation Solution
A spatio-temporal approach involving two spatial subtractions followed by a temporal subtraction is employed, where soft tissue maps are estimated and subtracted from both mask and live frames before temporal subtraction, reducing motion artifacts by compensating for various motion sources.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional temporal subtraction is used in DSA, then vascular structures can be visualized, but motion artifacts from breathing and bowel gas motion significantly degrade image quality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the subtraction process into three distinct stages: first spatial subtraction on mask frames, second spatial subtraction on live frames, and temporal subtraction. This segmentation allows each stage to address specific aspects of motion artifact reduction independently, with the first two subtractions removing static and slowly varying structures, and the final temporal subtraction eliminating residual motion artifacts
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary spatial subtractions on both mask and live frames before performing the final temporal subtraction. By pre-processing the frames to remove background structures and reduce motion variability, the subsequent temporal subtraction operates on cleaner data with reduced motion artifacts, effectively preparing the data in advance to mitigate the harmful effects of motion
2Measurement precision
If contrast agent is injected to emphasize vascular structures, then vascular visualization is improved, but the complexity of the imaging process increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple subtraction operations (first spatial subtraction, second spatial subtraction, and temporal subtraction) into a unified spatio-temporal subtraction workflow. By combining these operations in sequence and processing them through an integrated system, the patent manages the complexity of contrast-enhanced imaging while achieving superior vascular visualization and motion artifact reduction
Data Source
AI summary
A system, device, and method for visualizing vascular structures is disclosed. According to some implementations, in order to provide further improved digital subtraction angiography, a device for visualizing vascular structures is provided that includes a data provision processor, an image processor, and an output. The data provision processor is configured to provide a first sequence of non-contrast X-ray images of a region of interest of a patient for use as raw X-ray mask images. The data provision processor is also configured to provide a second sequence of contrast X-ray images of the region of interest of a patient for use as raw X-ray live-images. The image processor is configured to perform a first spatial subtraction for the first sequence of non-contrast X-ray images resulting in a first sequence of spatial-subtracted mask images. The image processor is also configured to perform a second spatial subtraction for the second sequence of contrast X-ray images resulting in a second sequence of spatial-subtracted X-ray live-images. The image processor is further configured to perform a temporal subtraction by subtracting the spatial-subtracted mask images from the spatial-subtracted X-ray live-images resulting in a sequence of spatial-temporal subtracted X-ray live-images. The output is configured to output the sequence of spatial-temporal subtracted X-ray live-images.