Abstract:
In part, the disclosure relates to method for identifying regions of interest in a blood vessel. The method includes the steps of: providing OCT image data of the blood vessel; applying a plurality of different edge detection filters to the OCT image data to generate a filter response for each edge detection filter; identifying in each edge detection filter response any response maxima; combining the response maxima for each edge detection filter response while maintaining the spatial relationship of the response maxima, to thereby create edge filtered OCT data; and analyzing the edge filtered OCT data to identify a region of interest, the region of interest defined as a local cluster of response maxima. In one embodiment, one or more indicia are positioned in one or more panels to emphasize a reference vessel profile as part of a user interface.
Abstract:
In part, the invention relates to a method for sizing a stent for placement in a vessel. In one embodiment, the method includes the steps of: dividing the vessel into a plurality of segments, each segment being defined as the space between branches of the vessel; selecting a starting point that appears to have substantially no disease; defining the diameter at this point to be the maximum diameter; calculating the maximal diameter of the next adjacent segment according to a power law; measuring the actual diameter of the next adjacent segment; selecting either the calculated maximum diameter or the measured maximum diameter depending upon which diameter is larger; using the selected maximum diameter to find the maximum diameter of this next segment; iteratively proceeding until the entire length of the vessel is examined; and selecting a stent in response to the diameters of the end proximal and distal segments.
Abstract:
In part, the disclosure relates to determining a stent deployment location and other parameters using blood vessel data. Stent deployment can be planned such that the amount of blood flow restored from stenting relative to an unstented vessel increases one or more metrics. An end user can specify one or more stent lengths, including a range of stent lengths. In turn, diagnostic tools can generate candidate virtual stents having lengths within the specified range suitable for placement relative to a vessel representation. Blood vessel distance values such as blood vessel diameter, radius, area values, chord values, or other cross-sectional, etc. its length are used to identify stent landing zones. These tools can use or supplement angiography data and/or be co-registered therewith. Optical imaging, ultrasound, angiography or other imaging modalities are used to generate the blood vessel data.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus of automatically locating in an image of a blood vessel the lumen boundary at a position in the vessel and from that measuring the diameter of the vessel. From the diameter of the vessel and estimated blood flow rate, a number of clinically significant physiological parameters are then determined and various user displays of interest generated. One use of these images and parameters is to aid the clinician in the placement of a stent. The system, in one embodiment, uses these measurements to allow the clinician to simulate the placement of a stent and to determine the effect of the placement. In addition, from these patient parameters various patient treatments are then performed.
Abstract:
In part, the disclosure relates to methods, and systems suitable for evaluating image data from a patient on a real time or substantially real time basis using machine learning (ML) methods and systems. Systems and methods for improving diagnostic tools for end users such as cardiologists and imaging specialists using machine learning techniques applied to specific problems associated with intravascular images that have polar representations. Further, given the use of rotating probes to obtain image data for OCT, IVUS, and other imaging data, dealing with the two coordinate systems associated therewith creates challenges. The present disclosure addresses these and numerous other challenges relating to solving the problem of quickly imaging and diagnosis a patient such that stenting and other procedures may be applied during a single session in the cath lab.
Abstract:
The present disclosure provides systems and methods to receiving OCT or IVUS image data frames to output one or more representations of a blood vessel segment. The image data frames may be stretched and/or aligned using various windows or bins or alignment features. Arterial features, such as the calcium burden, may be detected in each of the image data frames. The arterial features may be scored. The score may be a stent under-expansion risk. The representation may include an indication of the arterial features and their respective score. The indication may be a color coded indication.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus for determining properties of a tissue or tissues imaged by optical coherence tomography (OCT). In one embodiment the backscatter and attenuation of the OCT optical beam is measured and based on these measurements and indicium such as color is assigned for each portion of the image corresponding to the specific value of the backscatter and attenuation for that portion. The image is then displayed with the indicia and a user can then determine the tissue characteristics. In an alternative embodiment the tissue characteristics is classified automatically by a program given the combination of backscatter and attenuation values.
Abstract:
The present disclosure provides systems and methods for determining a mean transit time of blood within a blood vessel using pressure measurements collected by an intravascular tool and not dependent on temperature measurements. The intravascular instrument may collect a plurality of pressure measurements distal to an area of interest within the blood vessel as a bolus passes through the blood vessel and over the instrument. The plurality of pressure measurements may be plotted on a pressure dilution curve. A function of the pressure dilution curve and time is used to determine the mean transit time of the blood within the blood vessel.
Abstract:
In part, the disclosure relates to determining a stent deployment location and other parameters using blood vessel data. Stent deployment can be planned such that the amount of blood flow restored from stenting relative to an unstented vessel increases one or more metrics. An end user can specify one or more stent lengths, including a range of stent lengths. In turn, diagnostic tools can generate candidate virtual stents having lengths within the specified range suitable for placement relative to a vessel representation. Blood vessel distance values such as blood vessel diameter, radius, area values, chord values, or other cross-sectional, etc. its length are used to identify stent landing zones. These tools can use or supplement angiography data and/or be co-registered therewith. Optical imaging, ultrasound, angiography or other imaging modalities are used to generate the blood vessel data.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus of automatically locating in an image of a blood vessel the lumen boundary at a position in the vessel and from that measuring the diameter of the vessel. From the diameter of the vessel and estimated blood flow rate, a number of clinically significant physiological parameters are then determined and various user displays of interest generated. One use of these images and parameters is to aid the clinician in the placement of a stent. The system, in one embodiment, uses these measurements to allow the clinician to simulate the placement of a stent and to determine the effect of the placement. In addition, from these patient parameters various patient treatments are then performed.