Intraluminal Imaging With Stationary Deep-Breathing Frame Validation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Intraluminal imaging during deep breathing can lead to inaccurate identification of vessel constriction regions due to vein contraction and expansion, resulting in incorrect treatment decisions such as misplacement or incorrect sizing of stents.
Innovation Solution
A system that confirms correct identification of candidate reference and target frames by instructing the patient to breathe deeply, ensuring the imaging device is stationary, and selecting frames with the greatest vein size during the breathing cycle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If intraluminal imaging is performed during normal breathing, then the imaging procedure can be completed continuously, but the vein contraction and expansion during breathing leads to inaccurate identification of vessel constriction regions
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary identification of candidate reference frames and candidate target frames during continuous imaging, then pauses to perform confirmation imaging during deep breathing. This preliminary action allows the system to prepare potential frames for analysis before the physiological interference of breathing occurs, resolving the contradiction by separating the identification phase from the confirmation phase.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from deep breathing confirmation imaging to validate or reject candidate frames. By comparing vein size changes during deep breathing between candidate reference frames and candidate target frames, the system receives feedback that confirms accurate identification, thus improving measurement precision without permanently interrupting the overall imaging workflow.
2Productivity
If the imaging device continues to move during breathing, then the imaging efficiency is maintained, but the vein size changes make frame selection unreliable
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary scanning to identify candidate frames while maintaining imaging efficiency, then pauses only at specific locations where candidate frames have been identified. This preliminary action allows continuous imaging elsewhere in the vessel while isolating the frame selection process to discrete, controlled moments when the device is stationary.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies different operational modes to different locations: continuous imaging mode for most of the vessel to maintain efficiency, and paused confirmation mode only at specific candidate frame locations to ensure reliability. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction by allowing high productivity in non-critical areas while ensuring high reliability at critical decision points.
3Loss of time
If candidate frames are selected without deep breathing confirmation, then the imaging procedure time is reduced, but incorrect treatment decisions may result
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary selection of candidate frames based on initial imaging data, then performs confirmation imaging during deep breathing only for those specific candidates. This two-stage approach minimizes the time loss by limiting deep breathing confirmation to only the most promising candidate frames rather than requiring it for every potential frame.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses rapid feedback from deep breathing confirmation to quickly validate or reject candidate frames. The feedback mechanism is designed to provide definitive results in minimal time, allowing the system to make treatment decisions with high reliability while minimizing the overall time penalty for confirmation imaging.
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
Ensures accurate classification of healthy and constricted vessel regions, enabling proper treatment selection by selecting the correct size and location of stents.
Implementation Method 1
The transducers emit ultrasonic energy. Ultrasonic waves are partially reflected by discontinuities in tissue structures (such as various layers of the vessel wall), red blood cells, and other features of interest. Echoes from the reflected waves are received by the transducer and passed along to an intraluminal imaging system.
Data Source
AI summary
A system includes a processor circuit that receives intraluminal images obtained by an intraluminal imaging device during movement through a patient's body lumen. The processor circuit outputs, to a display, a visual representation of user guidance in response to the processor circuit identifying, among the intraluminal images, a candidate intraluminal image. The user guidance includes stopping the movement and instructing the patient to initiate deep breathing. The processor circuit receives additional intraluminal images obtained by the intraluminal imaging device while the movement is stopped and the patient is deep breathing. The processor circuit determines if a shape and/or size of the body lumen changes in the additional intraluminal images. The processor circuit accepts or rejects the candidate intraluminal image based on if the shape and/or size of the body lumen changes. The processor circuit outputs, to the display, a visual representation corresponding to accepting or rejecting the candidate intraluminal image.