Vessel Assessment Using Automatic Pressure-Ratio Step Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods struggle with accurate and consistent identification of significant stepped changes in pressure ratio curves to determine the presence and extent of stenosis in blood vessels, which is crucial for determining appropriate treatment strategies.
Innovation Solution
An Automatic Step Detection (ASD) process and algorithm are employed to identify and label starting and ending points of significant stepped changes in pressure ratio curves by applying threshold values within set windows, and register corresponding images to the curve for precise localization of stenotic areas.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual identification of stepped changes in pressure ratio curves is used, then flexibility in analysis is maintained, but accuracy and consistency of stenosis detection deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs automatic step detection where the processor autonomously identifies stepped changes in pressure ratio curves without requiring manual intervention. The processor applies threshold values within set windows to automatically detect and label starting and ending points of significant stepped changes, enabling self-service detection that improves accuracy and consistency while reducing operational complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual visual inspection and manual identification methods with an automated electronic processing system. The processor uses algorithmic threshold-based detection to substitute for human operators, achieving more precise and consistent identification of stepped changes through computational methods rather than mechanical or manual analysis
2Reliability
If automatic step detection with threshold values is implemented, then identification consistency is improved, but processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The detection process is segmented into distinct operational phases: obtaining pressure measurements, calculating pressure ratios, generating pressure ratio curves, detecting stepped changes using threshold values within set windows, and labeling results. This segmentation of the processing workflow into manageable stages improves reliability by ensuring each step is systematically executed while making the overall complex algorithm more manageable and implementable
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs threshold values as adjustable parameters to detect stepped changes. By changing the threshold parameter within set windows, the system can consistently identify significant stepped changes while filtering out noise. This parameter-based approach enhances detection reliability and consistency, allowing the system to adapt to different clinical scenarios while maintaining a structured processing framework
3Measurement precision
If pressure ratio curves are generated from sequential measurements, then hemodynamic assessment accuracy is improved, but measurement time increases
Solution Approach 1:
Pressure measurements are obtained sequentially along the vessel using a movable instrument before final analysis. The system preliminarily collects pressure data at multiple positions, then generates pressure ratio curves from these pre-collected measurements. This preliminary data collection approach allows for accurate hemodynamic assessment while enabling offline processing that reduces the time required during the critical analysis phase
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses periodic pressure measurements taken at regular intervals along the vessel during instrument movement. By sampling pressure data periodically at set positions, the system captures sufficient hemodynamic information to generate accurate pressure ratio curves while maintaining efficient measurement timing. The periodic sampling approach balances data accuracy with measurement speed
Data Source
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AI summary
The present inventions discloses a system for evaluating a vessel of a patient, the system comprising: a processor configured to: generate a pressure ratio curve from a series of pressure ratio values; identify a stepped change in the pressure ratio curve using an automatic step detection process; wherein the automatic step detection process includes: a step window function identifying a general position of a starting point of the stepped change by identifying a change in pressure ratio values within a first window along the pressure ratio curve that is at or above a first threshold change value (T1), and identifying an optimized position of the starting point by identifying a change in the pressure ratio values within a second window along the pressure ratio curve that is at or above a second threshold change value (T2), wherein the second window is smaller than the first window, and the second threshold change value (T2) is smaller than the first threshold change value (T1).