Virtual IVUS Imaging via Optical Shape Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) systems are expensive, disposable, and challenging to integrate into other medical devices due to size and complexity, limiting their application and increasing procedural time and risk.
Innovation Solution
Employing optical shape sensing technology to create virtual IVUS images by reformatting ultrasound data, allowing any shape-sensing enabled device to be transformed into an IVUS or intracardiac echocardiography (ICE) device with the addition of an external ultrasound probe, enabling expanded usage in various medical procedures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a miniature ultrasound transducer is integrated into the tip of an intravascular medical device, then useful clinical information can be provided, but the device becomes expensive and complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates virtual copies of IVUS images by reformatting ultrasound data from a separate probe. Instead of integrating a physical transducer into the catheter tip, the system generates virtual images that replicate what a tip-mounted transducer would capture, thereby achieving the same clinical information quality without the complexity and cost of integrated hardware
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary computational process that acts as a mediator between the external ultrasound probe and the catheter position. This intermediary system reformats the ultrasound data to create virtual images from the catheter's perspective, eliminating the need for direct physical integration while maintaining measurement precision
2Measurement precision
If IVUS technology is integrated into intravascular devices, then anatomical information can be obtained, but procedural time and risk increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the external ultrasound probe universal by enabling it to serve multiple functions: it can image different anatomical regions and work with various catheter positions. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for specialized disposable IVUS catheters for each procedure, reducing procedural time and allowing the same probe to be reused across multiple interventions
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using disposable IVUS catheters that must be discarded after single use, the patent enables recovery and reuse of the external ultrasound probe. The virtual image generation allows the same probe to be used repeatedly across multiple procedures, eliminating the time and cost associated with disposing of single-use devices
3Adaptability or versatility
If IVUS technology is built into other devices like stent deployment devices, then imaging capability is achieved, but size and complexity make it extremely challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal imaging solution where a single external ultrasound probe can work with multiple different medical devices (catheters, stent deployment devices, balloon catheters). This universality achieves device adaptability without requiring each device to have integrated imaging hardware, thereby avoiding the complexity that would result from building IVUS technology into each individual device
Solution Approach 2:
The patent generates virtual copies of imaging data that represent the perspective of any shape-sensing enabled device. This copying approach allows any device equipped with shape sensing to have imaging capability through software-based virtual image generation, rather than requiring physical integration of transducers, thus achieving adaptability while minimizing added complexity
Data Source
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AI summary
A system for providing a perspective for a virtual image includes an intraoperative imaging system (110) having a transducer (146) configured to generate an image data set for a region. A shape sensing enabled device (102) is configured to have at least a portion of the shape sensing enabled device positioned relative to the region. The shape sensing enabled device has a coordinate system registered with a coordinate system of the intraoperative imaging system. An image generation module (148) is configured to render a virtual image (152) of at least a portion of the region using the image data set wherein the virtual image includes a vantage point relative to a position on the shape sensing enabled device.