Heart Valve Leaflet Contact Measurement for Surgical Planning
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Solution Overview
Problem
In preoperative examinations for heart valve diseases, medical professionals face difficulties in understanding the detailed condition of heart valves, particularly in determining the appropriate operation method for valves like mitral or aortic valves, due to the lack of clear presentation of valve conditions from ultrasonic diagnostic apparatuses.
Innovation Solution
A medical image processing apparatus that extracts valve leaflets from image data, measures contact region lengths in a blood flow direction, and generates graphical and display data to provide detailed valve condition information, enabling better understanding and operation planning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is used to examine heart valve conditions, then the examination can be performed, but the detailed condition of the valve is not clearly presented making it difficult to understand
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the valve structure into multiple valve leaflets and divides the contact region into measurement segments along the blood flow direction. This segmentation allows detailed measurement of contact region lengths at different positions, transforming the complex valve condition into measurable discrete parameters that are easier to understand and present.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a new measurement dimension by measuring the length of contact regions along the blood flow direction (longitudinal dimension) in addition to the traditional two-dimensional valve structure. This third dimension provides additional information about the extent of contact between valve leaflets, making the valve condition more comprehensible.
2Loss of information
If traditional ultrasonic imaging is used, then valve examination is possible, but clear graphical representations of contact and separation regions are not provided
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the contact region information from the overall valve structure by identifying and measuring only the specific portions where valve leaflets contact each other. This extraction isolates the critical information about contact regions, allowing precise measurement of their lengths along the blood flow direction while ignoring non-contact portions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a measurement line as an intermediary element that extends along the blood flow direction through the contact region. This measurement line serves as a mediator between the valve leaflets and the measurement system, enabling precise quantification of contact region lengths by calculating the intersection or overlap with the measurement line.
3Reliability
If detailed valve condition analysis is performed, then operation planning can be improved, but the time required for planning increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements automated measurement and analysis functions that automatically process valve images, measure contact region lengths, and generate evaluation results without requiring manual analysis. This self-service approach eliminates the need for physicians to manually measure and interpret valve contact regions, significantly reducing planning time while maintaining high reliability through automated precision.
Data Source
AI summary
A medical image processing apparatus of an embodiment includes a processing circuitry. The processing circuitry extracts a plurality of valve leaflets of a heart valve from image data of a subject. The processing circuitry measures, with respect to at least one valve leaflet of the valve leaflets, a length of a region at which the valve leaflet is in contact with another valve leaflet, in a predetermined reference direction. The processing circuitry controls a display to display a distribution of the length at each of a plurality of positions on the valve leaflet.