Vascular characteristic determination with correspondence modeling of a vascular tree
Inventors
Lavi, Guy • Merhav, Uri • Lavi, Ifat
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-11816837-B2
Publication Date
2023-11-14
Expiration Date
Abstract
Automated image analysis used in vascular state modeling. Coronary vasculature in particular is modeled in some embodiments. Methods of “virtual revascularization” of a presently stenotic vasculature are described; useful, for example, as a reference in disease state determinations. Structure and uses of a model which relates records comprising acquired images or other structured data to a vascular tree representation are described.
Core Innovation
The invention provides a vascular assessment apparatus that receives a single 2-D image that includes vascular segments. It identifies vascular features within the image, where the vascular features include a parent vessel segment and at least one child vessel segment branching from the parent vessel segment. The apparatus generates a graph of vascular width as a function of position along a length of the respective vascular segment.
Using the graph of vascular width for each respective vascular segment, the invention determines a vascular characteristic for each vascular feature. It then calculates an index indicative of vascular function for the vascular segments using the determined vascular characteristics. The vascular characteristics may be determined based on the vascular width graph, including vascular resistance or volume.
The disclosed framework is dynamically updatable and relational, linking multi-view 2-D projection images to a vascular tree representation via coarse-grained homology/correspondence. It further supports virtual vascular effects, including determination of stenosis, virtual revascularization, and virtual stent/angioplasty effects, and functional metrics such as fractional flow reserve (FFR), with possible real-time procedure verification and progression/comparative analyses across time points and modalities.
Claims Coverage
The independent claims are directed to a vascular assessment apparatus, a method for vascular assessment, and non-transitory computer storage media. Across these independent claims, six inventive features are consistently present: receiving a single 2-D image, identifying parent/child branching vascular features, generating a vascular-width graph vs. position, determining vascular characteristics from the width graph, calculating an index indicative of vascular function, and computing the index using vascular resistance or volume and flow-related characterization.
Receiving a single 2-D image with vascular segments
The processor or system receives a single 2-D image that includes vascular segments.
Identifying parent and child branching vascular features
The processor or method identifies vascular features of the vascular segments within the 2-D image, where the vascular features include a parent vessel segment and at least one child vessel segment branching from the parent vessel segment.
Generating a vascular width graph as a function of position
The processor or method generates a graph of vascular width as a function of position along a length of the respective vascular segment.
Determining vascular characteristics from the width graph
The processor or method determines a vascular characteristic for each of the vascular features using the graph of vascular width for the respective vascular segment.
Calculating an index indicative of vascular function
The processor or method calculates an index indicative of vascular function for the vascular segments using the determined vascular characteristics.
Computing the index using vascular resistance or volume
In dependent refinements, the vascular characteristic includes vascular resistance or is defined by volume, and the index indicative of vascular function is calculated using a flow characteristic of the vascular segments where the flow characteristic is determined by resistances of the vascular features.
Optional display interaction with selected vessel segments
In dependent refinements, a displayed single 2-D image permits vessel-segment selection such that selecting a vessel segment shows the associated graph of vascular width, and the selected vessel segment may be highlighted in the displayed single 2-D image.
Optional extension to generating a 3-dimensional model
In dependent refinements, the method or apparatus receives additional 2-D images containing vascular segments and generates a 3-dimensional model including at least those vascular segments.
The core inventive concept is to assess vascular function from a single 2-D image by identifying parent/child branching vascular features, generating a vascular-width-vs-position graph for each segment, determining a vascular characteristic from that width graph, and calculating an index indicative of vascular function from the determined characteristics, with dependent claims further specifying vascular resistance or volume and resistance/flow-related computation.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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