Unfolded Vessel Image Overlay for Foreshortening-Free Navigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing imaging methods, particularly X-ray-based, struggle to clearly distinguish medical devices from vascular structures and surrounding tissues, leading to inadequate navigation during interventions due to foreshortening and overlap, often relying on interventionalist experience and resulting in suboptimal device selection.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the generation of an overlay data set by registering and overlaying a preprocedural 3D data set with intraprocedural projections to create a two-dimensional unfolded image, preserving vessel length and curvature without overlap, using AI for registration and overlaying.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If traditional 2D X-ray imaging is used during intervention, then real-time imaging is available, but vessel foreshortening and overlap occur making navigation difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the 3D vessel structure into a 2D unfolded map that preserves true vessel length and curvature information while eliminating foreshortening and overlap problems inherent in traditional 2D projection imaging. This dimensional transformation allows accurate navigation planning without sacrificing real-time imaging capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preprocedural 3D imaging and vessel unfolding before the intervention to create an accurate vascular map. This preliminary action allows the interventionalist to plan the procedure with precise vessel length and curvature information, avoiding the need to guess device length requirements during the actual procedure.
2Reliability
If multiple devices are introduced to account for foreshortening, then complete vessel coverage is achieved, but additional costs and procedure time increase
Solution Approach 1:
By performing vessel unfolding and measurement before the intervention, the patent enables accurate determination of the required device length and type in advance. This eliminates the need to introduce multiple devices during the procedure to compensate for uncertain vessel geometry, thereby reducing both procedure time and costs.
3Loss of information
If 3D data set is registered and overlaid on current 2D images, then vessel overview is provided, but foreshortening and overlap persist in the overlay
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of overlaying 3D data onto 2D projection images where foreshortening and overlap occur, the patent unfolds the 3D vessel structure into a specialized 2D map that preserves true geometric relationships. This unfolded view provides complete vessel path information without the distortion inherent in traditional projection-based overlays.
4Ease of operation
If device length is selected based on 2D imaging without unfolding, then procedure is simplified, but wrong device length may be selected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs vessel unfolding and length measurement before device selection, providing accurate vessel path length information in advance. This allows the interventionalist to select the correct device length on first attempt without needing to account for foreshortening, maintaining procedural simplicity while ensuring measurement accuracy.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for providing an overlay data set. The method includes providing a 3D data set that images a vessel, unfolding at least a partial region of the 3D data set along a center line of the vessel to produce a two-dimensional unfolded image, acquiring a first projection of the vessel, registering the first projection with the 3D data set, and providing the overlay data set comprising an overlay of the first projection on the two-dimensional unfolded image.