X-ray Diagnosis Apparatus Vector-Based Objective Point Tracking
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current X-ray diagnosis apparatuses for catheterization, such as coronary artery intervention, face challenges in accurately superimposing contrast-enhanced and fluoroscopic images due to heart movement and respiration, leading to poor positional accuracy and increased subject load, which hinders efficient catheterization.
Innovation Solution
An X-ray diagnosis apparatus that calculates and displays the position of an objective point on a current image based on a vector from a reference point on a past image, using an electrocardiographic phase-aligned vector to highlight the objective point on a monitor, reducing the need for frequent contrast medium imaging and improving accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If contrast-enhanced images are acquired frequently to maintain accurate objective point display, then display accuracy is improved, but the load on the subject increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-acquires contrast-enhanced images and stores them in a buffer memory before the actual catheterization procedure. This preliminary acquisition allows the system to have reference images ready without requiring frequent contrast medium injection during the procedure, thereby reducing subject load while maintaining display accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a temporary image by synthesizing information from stored contrast-enhanced images and current fluoroscopic images. This copying approach allows the display of accurate objective points without requiring new contrast medium injection, as the system replicates the necessary visual information from existing data.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If contrast-enhanced images are acquired infrequently to reduce subject load, then subject load is reduced, but objective point display accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the imaging strategy by using stored contrast-enhanced images for regions where anatomy has not changed significantly, while selectively acquiring new images only when necessary. This dynamic approach optimizes the balance between subject load and display accuracy by adapting to real-time procedural needs.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces a buffer memory as an intermediary that stores pre-acquired contrast-enhanced images. This buffer acts as a mediator between the need for accurate reference images and the desire to minimize contrast medium usage, allowing the system to retrieve stored images when accuracy is sufficient without requiring frequent new acquisitions.
3Ease of operation
If ECG gated imaging is used to superimpose contrast-enhanced images on fluoroscopic images, then superimposition is achieved, but positional accuracy degrades due to respiration and heart movement
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts and removes the moving portion (heart and blood vessels) from the image superimposition process by using reference points on stationary structures. This extraction allows the system to calculate objective point positions based on stable anatomical landmarks rather than attempting to superimpose moving cardiac structures, thereby maintaining accuracy despite heart movement and respiration.
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments the image processing into two distinct parts: (1) using stored contrast-enhanced images to identify objective points on blood vessels, and (2) using current fluoroscopic images to locate reference points on stationary structures. This segmentation allows each part to be optimized independently, with the objective point identification relying on high-quality contrast images rather than real-time superimposition.
Data Source
AI summary
A storage unit (32) stores a plurality of vectors and a plurality of past electrocardiographic phases in association with each other. Each of the vectors is a vector from a past reference point to a past objective point. A Reference point specifying unit (26) specifies a current reference point on a current image. An electrocardiograph (18) detects a current electrocardiographic phase associated with the current image. A vector specifying unit (34) specifies a specific vector associated with a past electrocardiographic phase corresponding to the detected current electrocardiographic phase among the plurality of vectors. Objective point calculation unit (36) calculates a position of a current objective point on the current image based on the specified vector and the position of the current reference point. A display unit (38, 40) displays the position of the current objective point on the current image.