Vessel Tree Modelling with Shared Contours at Branch Points
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medical imaging techniques face challenges in accurately and efficiently determining contours of blood vessels, especially at branch points, due to sharp changes in centreline curvature and the risk of centreline deviation through calcifications or outside vessel boundaries, leading to inefficiencies and reduced operator confidence in image processing systems.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that determine contours by calculating paths for both sides of a branch point, ensuring contour consistency across model vessels, using a processing apparatus connected to a CT scanner, which processes image data to identify centreline points and contour planes, and aligns contour planes based on centreline direction over a region rather than at a single point, reducing unnecessary recalculations and smoothing variations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If contour planes are taken perpendicular to the centreline at a series of points, then contours can be determined for each point, but the contours change direction too sharply and may overlap incorrectly at branch points
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the vessel tree into multiple model vessels, each representing a path from a root node through branch points to leaf nodes. By processing contours segment by segment along the centreline and identifying contour branch points where contours should be shared, the system maintains both accuracy at each measurement point and smoothness across the entire vessel structure, preventing the sharp direction changes and overlaps that occur when treating the entire vessel as a single continuous contour.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the centreline is smoothed using a best fit algorithm, then the centreline curve becomes smooth, but the modified centreline may pass through calcium or lie outside the vessel in some places
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different processing qualities to different parts of the centreline. Rather than uniformly smoothing the entire centreline which risks passing through calcium deposits, the system identifies specific regions (contour branch points) where smoothing is appropriate while maintaining the original centreline positions in critical areas. This local differentiation allows smooth contour transitions at branch points while preserving centreline accuracy where it passes through or near calcifications.
3Ease of manufacture
If contours are calculated separately for different blood vessels, then each vessel can be processed independently, but contours may be recalculated multiple times for segments that form part of different blood vessels
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the contour calculation process across multiple blood vessels by identifying contour branch points where contours are shared between adjacent model vessels. Instead of independently calculating contours for each vessel segment, the system calculates contours once for shared segments and reuses them across multiple vessels. This combining approach maintains the independence needed for individual vessel analysis while dramatically improving processing efficiency by eliminating redundant calculations.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method that determines a contour of a model vessel representing a branching structure, wherein the structure contains a branch point at which an upper segment of the structure splits into a first lower segment and a second lower segment, and determines a path of a first model vessel representative of at least part of the upper segment and at least part of the first lower segment, determines a path of a second model vessel, representative of at least part of the upper segment and at least part of the second lower segment, determines the position of a contour branch point; and ensures that for at least one position above the contour branch point a contour of the first model vessel is substantially the same as a contour of the second model vessel.