Virtual Catheter Flow Mapping for Noninvasive Hemodynamic Assessment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Invasive diagnostic catheterization is limited by its invasive nature, associated risks, high cost, and inability to provide information on regional blood flow or flow patterns, which are crucial for hemodynamic evaluation in cardiovascular and neurovascular diseases.
Innovation Solution
A method for generating flow metric maps from medical flow data using a computer system, where the data is segmented, a virtual volume is constructed, and flow metrics are computed to create intuitive and quantitative maps similar to invasive catheter-based mapping without the need for invasive procedures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If invasive diagnostic catheterization is used for hemodynamic assessment, then measurement precision is improved, but object-affected harmful factors increase due to invasive nature and procedural risks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a virtual catheter that replicates the measurement capabilities of invasive catheters through noninvasive imaging. The virtual catheter is constructed from medical images to define a region of interest, allowing hemodynamic parameter measurement without physical intrusion into the patient's body, thus eliminating procedural risks while maintaining assessment accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical invasive catheter system with a computational imaging-based system. Instead of physically inserting a catheter into blood vessels, the system uses medical images (CT, MRI, ultrasound) to construct virtual anatomical models and perform hemodynamic calculations, substituting mechanical intrusion with digital simulation
2Measurement precision
If invasive catheterization is performed, then hemodynamic evaluation is improved, but loss of time increases due to procedural complexity and health care utilization
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary actions by constructing the virtual catheter and defining the region of interest before actual hemodynamic measurements are needed. The virtual model is prepared in advance from existing medical images, allowing rapid deployment for diagnostic evaluation without the time-consuming setup and execution of invasive procedures
Solution Approach 2:
By creating a virtual copy of the catheter from noninvasive imaging data, the system eliminates the need for time-consuming invasive procedure setup, patient preparation, and post-procedure care, significantly reducing overall time and health care utilization while maintaining diagnostic capability
3Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional imaging modalities are used, then noninvasive blood flow information is provided, but measurement precision is insufficient compared to invasive catheterization
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a virtual catheter as an intermediary between conventional noninvasive imaging and invasive catheterization. The virtual catheter is constructed from medical images to define a region of interest, and hemodynamic parameters are calculated based on this virtual model, bridging the gap between noninvasive imaging capabilities and invasive measurement accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by focusing computational resources on a specific region of interest defined by the virtual catheter. Instead of attempting to measure all blood flow parameters throughout the entire body, the system concentrates analysis on the specific vascular segment of interest, improving measurement precision for that localized region while maintaining noninvasive benefits
Data Source
AI summary
Described here are systems and methods for generating quantitative flow mapping from medical flow data (e.g., medical images, patient-specific computational flow models, particle image velocimetry data, in vitro flow phantom) over a virtual volume representative of a catheter or other medical device. As such, quantitative flow mapping is provided with reduced computational burdens. Quantitative flow maps can also be generated and displayed in a manner that is similar to catheter-based or other medical device-based mapping, without requiring an interventional procedure to place the catheter or medical device.