Vessel Segmentation Using Co-registered Physiology Data

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for determining stent placement in vascular procedures are prone to errors, leading to improper stent placement, size, and number, which can result in failed treatments or complications due to manual estimation rather than precise location and sizing based on invasive and non-invasive data co-registration.

Innovation Solution

A system that automatically segments vessels using co-registered invasive physiology data and x-ray images to recommend stent type, size, number, and placement locations, ensuring healthy regions and minimizing stent material deployment by identifying segments of interest based on pressure changes and side branch locations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If manual identification of stent placement zones is used, then the physician has flexibility in decision-making, but the accuracy and precision of stent placement is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestent placement accuracyVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual mechanical identification methods with an automated computer-based system that processes medical images and physiology data to automatically identify stent placement zones, calculate pressure gradients, and generate treatment recommendations, thereby improving measurement precision while managing system complexity through algorithmic automation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary processing system that acts as a mediator between raw medical data (images, physiology measurements) and clinical decisions, automatically processing and analyzing the data to provide objective, precise recommendations for stent placement without requiring direct manual interpretation of all data

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If larger stents are deployed to ensure adequate blood flow restoration, then treatment reliability is improved, but the risk of complications and loss of vessel tissue is increased

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveblood flow restorationVSAvoidvessel tissue damage

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses parameter changes by calculating pressure gradients and analyzing physiological data to determine the optimal stent size and placement parameters, allowing the system to prescribe stents of appropriate dimensions that restore blood flow while minimizing excessive stent material that could cause vessel tissue damage

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by analyzing specific local characteristics of the vessel segments, such as pressure gradients and anatomical features, to determine the precise location and size of stents needed only where required, rather than deploying uniformly large stents throughout the vessel

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Reliability

If multiple stents are deployed to address complex vascular conditions, then treatment effectiveness is improved, but the complexity of the procedure and risk of complications is increased

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetreatment effectivenessVSAvoidprocedure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies segmentation by dividing the vessel into multiple segments based on pressure gradients and anatomical features, allowing the system to identify and treat specific problem areas independently, which simplifies the overall procedure by focusing on critical segments rather than treating the entire vessel uniformly

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

4Reliability

If stents are placed in all identified segments, then complete blood flow restoration is achieved, but the amount of stent material used is increased

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveblood flow restorationVSAvoidstent material

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies partial action by analyzing pressure gradients to identify only the specific segments that require stent placement, rather than treating all segments uniformly, thereby using stent material only where clinically necessary to restore blood flow and avoiding excessive material deployment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentUS20230181156A1Automatic segmentation and treatment planning for a vessel with coregistration of physiology data and extraluminal data

Publication Date: 2023.06.15 PHILIPS IMAGE GUIDED THERAPY CORP

AI summary

A system includes a processor circuit that receives physiology measurements obtained by an intraluminal physiology measurement device within a body lumen. The processor circuit automatically segments the body lumen into a plurality of segments based on the physiology measurements. The processor circuit then determines a change in the physiology measurements corresponding to each segment and determines a recommended position for a treatment device within the body lumen based on the change for each segment. The processor circuit provides an output associated with the recommended position on a display.