Time-Encoded Blood Flow Imaging from Arbitrary Angles
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional angiographic X-ray imaging requires multiple 2D Digital Subtraction Angiography (DSA) images from different angles, which can be challenging for patients due to contrast medium allergies or radiation exposure concerns, leading to sub-optimal imaging or additional patient exposure.
Innovation Solution
A system that generates 4D images by encoding 3D data with time, allowing for the creation of static, time-encoded 2D images that depict blood flow over time from arbitrary projection angles, enabling users to rotate and compare images for diagnosis, treatment assessment, or documentation without the need for additional contrast medium or radiation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple 2D DSA images are acquired from different angles, then imaging completeness and diagnostic accuracy are improved, but patient exposure to contrast medium and radiation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms multiple 2D projection images into a single 3D volume dataset, adding the spatial dimension to the data. This 3D volume can then be viewed from any arbitrary angle through software rendering, eliminating the need to acquire additional 2D images from different angles. The dimensionality change allows comprehensive multi-angle visualization from a single acquisition, reducing contrast medium and radiation exposure while maintaining diagnostic accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates virtual copies of the 3D vascular structure that can be viewed from any projection angle. Instead of physically acquiring multiple 2D images from different angles (which would require additional contrast medium and radiation), the system generates software-based projections of the 3D volume, providing unlimited viewing angles from a single acquisition.
2Measurement precision
If additional 2D DSA images are acquired for better anatomical assessment, then imaging quality is improved, but device complexity and procedure time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent acquires a 3D volume dataset instead of multiple sequential 2D images, fundamentally changing the data acquisition approach. This single 3D acquisition replaces the need for multiple 2D DSA images from different angles, simplifying the imaging procedure while providing superior anatomical assessment through arbitrary angle rendering and interactive 3D visualization capabilities.
3Adaptability or versatility
If 3D data is acquired to enable arbitrary angle viewing, then imaging versatility is improved, but data processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent acquires a 3D volume dataset that inherently contains all possible projection angles within the volume. This allows post-processing rendering from any arbitrary angle without requiring additional acquisitions or complex real-time processing. The 3D volume serves as a comprehensive data repository that can be viewed and analyzed from unlimited perspectives.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs the data acquisition in 3D format from the beginning, preparing the data in advance for arbitrary angle viewing. By acquiring the complete 3D volume dataset upfront, the system eliminates the need for complex real-time processing or additional acquisitions when different viewing angles are needed during diagnosis or treatment planning.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method include reception of 3D imaging data showing blood flow over time in a patient volume including vessels, reception of a user input of a projection angle, generation of a plurality of 3D images based on the 3D imaging data, generation of a 2D digitally reconstructed radiograph (DRR) at the projection angle input by the user for one of the plurality of 3D X-ray images, and display of the 2D DRR image. Numerous other aspects are provided.