X-ray Diagnostic Apparatus Stabilizing Stent Markers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Endovascular intervention treatments in organs like the heart, which pulsate or move, pose challenges in precisely positioning medical devices due to the movement of X-ray image markers, leading to increased skill requirements for doctors and longer processing times for displaying stable device positions in conventional techniques.
Innovation Solution
An X-ray diagnostic apparatus with processing circuitry and storage circuitry that generates and corrects X-ray images by setting reference positions for markers, reducing processing time and enhancing visibility of medical devices during procedures by stabilizing their appearance in images.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional techniques are used to display stable device positions by tracking markers in pulsating organs, then device positioning accuracy is improved, but processing time for displaying stable images increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary localization of the medical device using X-ray images acquired before the intervention procedure. This pre-localization data is stored and used as a reference to reduce the processing time during the actual procedure, allowing the system to quickly generate stable device position displays without performing full marker tracking from scratch.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a virtual copy of the medical device model based on pre-acquired X-ray images and localization data. This virtual model is then overlaid on real-time X-ray images, allowing the system to display stable device positions without continuously tracking markers, thereby reducing processing time while maintaining positioning accuracy.
2Ease of operation
If doctors manually position devices by referring to moving X-ray image markers in pulsating organs, then positioning capability is achieved, but the skill requirement and difficulty increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces a virtual medical device model as an intermediary between the actual device and the doctor's visual perception. This virtual model, generated from pre-localization data, provides stable positional reference that does not move with organ pulsation, eliminating the need for doctors to manually track moving markers and significantly reducing the skill requirement.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces the manual mechanical tracking method (doctor visually following moving markers) with an automated computational method. The processing circuitry automatically generates virtual device models and overlays them on X-ray images, substituting the doctor's manual tracking effort with automated image processing and visualization.
3Stability of the object's composition
If full marker tracking is performed in real-time for every X-ray image, then device position stability is improved, but processing time and computational load increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs device localization and virtual model generation in advance, before the intervention procedure begins. This pre-processing creates a stable reference framework that can be quickly applied to subsequent X-ray images without requiring real-time marker tracking, thus maintaining device position stability while significantly improving image processing speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The virtual medical device model serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides stable positional reference, guides the intervention procedure, and reduces processing time for subsequent images. This multi-functional approach allows the system to maintain device position stability without the computational overhead of continuous real-time marker tracking.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The apparatus enables faster and more accurate positioning of medical devices by stabilizing their appearance in X-ray images, reducing the time required for device localization and enhancing the visibility of stent markers, thus improving the efficiency of endovascular interventions.
Implementation Method 1
generates X-ray images based on X-rays emitted from an X-ray tube and transmitted through a subject
Data Source
AI summary
In an X-ray diagnostic apparatus of one embodiment, an image data generator sequentially generates X-ray images based on X-rays transmitted through a subject. An image processor executes: first processing where, in response to an instruction to start correction processing, a position of a target contained in a predetermined X-ray image is obtained as a reference position; and second processing where corrected images in which positions of the target are set at the reference position are sequentially generated from newly generated X-ray images. An image data storage unit stores therein information on a reference position with respect to each set of conditions of manipulation on the subject. Upon receiving the instruction to start correction processing, the image processor executes the second processing by using information on the reference position stored in the image data storage unit, in accordance with a set of the conditions of manipulation on the subject.