System and method for three-dimensional reconstruction of an artery

• US 20030078500A1
• Filed: 11/12/2002
• Published: 04/24/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Paieon Inc.
• Original Assignee: Paieon Inc.
• Inventors: Carmeli, Ran, Evron, Rami, Assis, Tsuriel
• Granted Patent: US 7,321,677 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/443
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/504 for diagnosis of blood vessels, e.g. by angiography
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 19/20 Editing of 3D images, e.g. changing shapes or colours, aligning objects or positioning parts
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2211/404 Angiography
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2219/2016 Rotation, translation, scaling
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/922 including image analysis

Abstract

A method and system for imaging an artery contained in an arterial tree. A microprocessor generates a three-dimensional reconstruction of the arterial tree from two or more angiographic images obtained from different perspectives. The orientation of the axis of the artery in the arterial tree is then determined, and a perspective of the artery perpendicular to the axis of the artery is determined. A three dimensional reconstruction of the artery from angiographic images obtained from the determined perspective is then generated.

Claims

1. A system for imaging an artery contained in an arterial tree, the artery having an axis, comprising:

a a microprocessor configured to

aa generate a three-dimensional reconstruction of the arterial tree from two or more angiographic images of the arterial tree obtained from different perspectives;

ab determine an orientation of the axis of the artery in the arterial tree;

ac determine from the three-dimensional reconstruction of the arterial tree at least one perspective of the artery perpendicular to the axis of the artery; and

ad generate a three dimensional reconstruction of the artery from angiographic images obtained essentially from the determined at least one perspective.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the microprocessor is further configured to display on a display any one or more of an angiographic image, the reconstruction of the arterial tree, or the reconstruction of the artery.

3. The system of claim 2 further comprising a display configured to display any one or more of an angiographic image, the reconstruction of the arterial tree, or the reconstruction of the artery.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the microprocessor is further configured to make meterological measurements on the reconstruction of the arterial tree or the reconstruction of the artery.

5. The system according to claim 3 wherein the microprocessor is further configured to manipulate an image on the display.

6. The system of claim 3 wherein the microprocessor is configured to display on the display a view of the three-dimensional reconstruction of the arterial tree from a selected perspective.

7. The system of claim 3 wherein the microprocessor is configured to display on the display a view of the three-dimensional reconstruction of the artery from a selected perspective, such as a cross sectional perspective.

8. The system of claim 3 wherein the three-dimensional reconstruction of the artery is displayed on the display embedded in the three-dimensional display of the arterial tree.

9. A method for imaging an artery contained in an arterial tree, the artery having an axis, comprising:

a generating a three-dimensional reconstruction of the arterial tree from two or more angiographic images of the arterial tree obtained from different perspectives;

b determining an orientation of the axis of the artery in the arterial tree;

c determining from the three-dimensional reconstruction of the is arterial tree at least one perspective of the artery perpendicular to the axis of the artery; and

d generating a three dimensional reconstruction of the artery from angiographic images obtained essentially from the determined at least one perspective.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising a step of displaying on a display any one or more of an angiographic image, the reconstruction of the arterial tree, or the reconstruction of the artery.

11. The method of claim 9 further comprising a step of making meterological measurements on the reconstruction of the arterial tree or the reconstruction of the artery.

12. The method according to claim 10 further comprising a step of manipulating an image on the display.

13. The method of claim 10 further comprising a step of displaying a view of the three-dimensional reconstruction of the arterial tree from a selected perspective.

14. The method of claim 10 further comprising a step of displaying on the display a view of the three-dimensional reconstruction of the artery from a selected perspective, such as a cross sectional perspective.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the three-dimensional reconstruction of the artery is displayed on the display embedded in the three-dimensional display of the arterial tree.

16. The method according to claim 9 further including:

e detecting in the three-dimensional reconstruction of the arterial tree a stenotic artery, the stenotic artery having an axis; and

f analyzing the three-dimensional reconstruction of the artery for diagnosing stenosis in an arterial tree.

17. The method according to claim 16 wherein the step of analyzing the three-dimensional reconstruction of the artery includes determining the length or severity of the stenosis in the stenotic artery.

18. The method according to claim 16 or 17 wherein the arterial tree is selected from he group comprising the coronary arterial tree, the renal arterial tree, the pulmonary arterial tree, the cerebral arterial tree, and the hepatic arterial tree.

19. The method according to claim 17 wherein the stenotic artery has a lumen, the lumen has a cross-section of maximal narrowing, the cross-section of maximal narrowing has a fraction occluded by plaque, and determining the severity of the stenosis includes determining the fraction of the cross-section of maximal narrowing occluded by plaque.

20. A computer program comprising computer program code means for performing all the steps of any one of claims 9 to 19 when said program is run on a computer.

21. A computer program as claimed in claim 20 embodied on a computer readable medium.