Vessel Assessment via Spatial Co-registration of Medical Images
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for assessing the severity of stenosis in blood vessels, such as fractional flow reserve (FFR), rely on numerical calculations and longitudinal studies, which are less than ideal for tracking physiological changes over time and require mental estimations, lacking comprehensive visual representations.
Innovation Solution
The development of a system and method for spatially and temporally co-registering graphical diagnostic measurements from different medical imaging modalities to provide visual representations of vessel changes over time, allowing for a more informed evaluation of physiological conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If numerical calculations such as FFR are used to assess stenosis severity, then quantitative data is obtained, but the ability to visually track physiological changes over time is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines numerical FFR calculations with visual imaging modalities (IVUS, OCT, MRI) into an integrated assessment system. The system merges quantitative pressure ratio data with visual vessel morphology data, allowing simultaneous quantitative measurement and visual tracking of physiological changes over time through co-registered images and numerical data displays.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds a temporal dimension to the assessment by displaying longitudinal studies that track vessel changes over time. It also adds a multi-modality dimension by integrating different imaging techniques (IVUS, OCT, MRI) with pressure measurements, creating a comprehensive three-dimensional view of vessel health that includes both numerical and visual information.
2Reliability
If longitudinal numerical studies are conducted to track procedure effectiveness, then quantitative improvement is measured, but the ease of operation and visual assessment is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates visual copies and representations of vessel changes through co-registered images from different modalities. Instead of requiring practitioners to mentally interpret numerical changes, the system generates visual overlays and comparative displays that replicate the before-and-after state of the vessel, making the assessment process more intuitive and easier to operate.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces visual intermediaries such as co-registered image overlays, temporal-spatial mapping displays, and multi-modality fusion images that mediate between the raw numerical data and the practitioner's visual assessment. These intermediaries translate quantitative improvements into visually intuitive representations, enhancing ease of operation while maintaining reliability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple imaging modalities are integrated, then comprehensive vessel assessment is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs a universal processing system that can handle multiple imaging modalities (IVUS, OCT, MRI, pressure measurements) through a common co-registration framework. The system uses a unified software platform that performs temporal and spatial alignment across different modalities, reducing the need for separate specialized systems and thereby managing complexity while maintaining versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical integration of multiple imaging devices with a software-based co-registration approach. Instead of physically integrating all modalities into a single hardware system, the system uses computational algorithms to align and fuse data from separate modalities, simplifying the physical device architecture while achieving comprehensive multi-modality assessment capability.
Data Source
AI summary
Devices, systems, and methods for visually depicting a vessel and evaluating a physiological condition of the vessel are disclosed. One embodiment includes obtaining, at a first time, a first image of the vessel, the image being in a first medical modality, and obtaining, at a second time subsequent to the first time, a second image of the vessel, the image being in the first medical modality. The method also includes spatially co-registering the first and second images and outputting a visual representation of the co-registered first and second images on a display. Further, the method includes determining a physiological difference between the vessel at the first time and the vessel at the second time based on the co-registered first and second images, and evaluating the physiological condition of the vessel of the patient based on the determined physiological difference.