Stent Imaging Interface for Accurate Apposition Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current stent deployment techniques face challenges in accurately visualizing stent placement relative to blood vessel walls, leading to issues such as stent overexpansion, underexpansion, and malapposition, which can cause vessel damage, dissection, and increased thrombosis risk, due to difficulties in interpreting angiography images and background noise in OCT data.
Innovation Solution
The system integrates angiography and intravascular data collection systems like OCT and IVUS to generate indicators, such as apposition bars and stent strut indicators, overlaid on angiography frames for precise stent deployment planning, and employs algorithms for automated stent detection and shadow differentiation, reducing user error and enhancing visualization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If automated stent detection algorithms are implemented, then measurement precision and productivity improve, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an automated detection algorithm as an intermediary between the OCT imaging system and the clinician. This algorithm processes the raw OCT data, identifies stent struts, and presents processed results to the user, thereby improving measurement precision while managing system complexity through software-based automation rather than hardware complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual visual inspection and manual measurement methods with automated computational algorithms. The algorithm automatically detects stent struts, calculates measurements, and generates results, substituting the mechanical/manual process with an automated information processing system that improves precision without requiring additional physical hardware
2Measurement precision
If manual review of angiography images is performed, then measurement precision may be maintained, but loss of time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The automated detection algorithm performs self-service by automatically processing OCT images, identifying stent features, and generating measurements without requiring manual intervention. The system serves itself by taking raw data as input and producing processed results as output, eliminating the time-consuming manual review process while maintaining or improving measurement precision
Solution Approach 2:
The algorithm performs preliminary processing of the OCT data during the procedure, automatically identifying stent struts and preparing measurement results before the clinician needs to review them. This preliminary automated analysis reduces the time required for manual review while ensuring accurate detection of stent position and expansion
3Manufacturing precision
If stent expansion pressure is increased, then manufacturing precision of stent apposition improves, but object-affected harmful factors increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs feedback by using OCT imaging to monitor stent expansion in real-time and automatically detect when the stent is properly apposed to the vessel wall. The system provides feedback information about stent expansion status, allowing the clinician to adjust inflation pressure dynamically to achieve optimal apposition while minimizing vessel damage, rather than using fixed high-pressure inflation
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
This approach improves the accuracy of stent placement by providing clear indicators and automated detection, minimizing user intervention and reducing procedural time, while ensuring proper stent expansion and apposition, thus reducing vessel damage and thrombosis risk.
Implementation Method 1
Utilizing coherent light, interferometry, and micro-optics, OCT can provide video-rate in-vivo tomography within a diseased vessel with micrometer level resolution
Implementation Method 2
Utilizing coherent light, interferometry, and micro-optics, OCT can provide video-rate in-vivo tomography within a diseased vessel with micrometer level resolution
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure relates, in part, to computer-based visualization of stent position within a blood vessel. A stent can be visualized using intravascular data and subsequently displayed as stent struts or portions of a stent as a part of a one or more graphic user interface(s) (GUI). In one embodiment, the method includes steps to distinguish stented region(s) from background noise using an amalgamation of angular stent strut information for a given neighborhood of frames. The GUI can include views of a blood vessel generated using distance measurements and demarcating the actual stented region(s), which provides visualization of the stented region. The disclosure also relates to display of intravascular diagnostic information such as indicators. An indicator can be generated and displayed with images generated using an intravascular data collection system. The indicators can include one or more viewable graphical elements suitable for indicating diagnostic information such as stent information.