CARDIAC CT SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PLANNING ATRIAL FIBRILLATION INTERVENTION

• US 20040225331A1
• Filed: 05/09/2003
• Published: 11/11/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: APN Health, LLC, GE Medical Systems Global Technology Company LLC (GE Healthcare Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: GE Medical Systems Global Technology Company LLC (GE Healthcare Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Thomson, Helen, Sra, Jasbir S., Okerlund, Darin R.
• Granted Patent: US 7,565,190 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/14
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/10 Computer-aided planning, simulation or modelling of surgical operations
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7285 for synchronising or triggering a physiological measurement or image acquisition with a physiological event or waveform, e.g. an ECG signal A61B6/5205, A61B6/541, A61B8/5207, A61B8/543 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/503 for diagnosis of the heart
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/504 for diagnosis of blood vessels, e.g. by angiography
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/541 involving acquisition triggered by a physiological signal
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/543 involving acquisition triggered by a physiological signal
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 30/20 for handling medical images, e.g. DICOM, HL7 or PACS
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/50 for simulation or modelling of medical disorders

Abstract

A method for planning atrial fibrillation (AF) intervention for a patient includes obtaining acquisition data from a medical imaging system, and generating a 3D model of the left atrium and pulmonary veins of the patient. One or more left atrial anatomical landmarks are identified on the 3D model, and saved views of the 3D model are registered on an interventional system. One or more of the registered saved views are visualized with the interventional system.

Claims

1. A method for planning atrial fibrillation (AF) intervention for a patient, the method comprising:

obtaining acquisition data from a medical imaging system;

generating a 3D model of the left atrium and pulmonary veins of the patient;

identifying one or more left atrial (LA) and pulmonary vein (PV) anatomical landmarks on said 3D model;

registering saved views of said 3D model on an interventional system; and

visualizing one or more of said registered saved views with said interventional system.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising identifying, from said 3D model, pulmonary vein locations and muscle thickness in and around the PV ostium.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said obtaining acquisition data is implemented with protocols directed for imaging the left atrium and pulmonary veins.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising utilizing post processing software to process said acquisition data so as to generate immersible views of the left atrium and pulmonary veins.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said 3D model and said immersible views are visualized through a display screen associated with said interventional system.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising highlighting LA regions in proximity to the coronary arteries.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising highlighting LA regions in proximity to the left circumflex artery.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said obtaining acquisition data is EKG gated.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

performing vessel tracking segmentation of the coronary arteries; and

identifying areas of the left atrium and pulmonary veins within a determined proximity with respect to the left circumflex artery.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

preparing a translucent 3D rendering of the left atrium and pulmonary veins; and

preparing an opaque rendering of the left circumflex artery.

11. A method for planning atrial fibrillation (AF) intervention for a patient, the method comprising:

obtaining acquisition data from a medical imaging system using a protocol directed toward the left atrium and pulmonary veins;

segmenting said acquisition data using a 3D protocol so as to visualize the left atrium and pulmonary veins;

generating a 3D model of the left atrium and pulmonary veins of the patient;

identifying one or more left atrial (LA) and pulmonary vein (PV) anatomical landmarks on'"'"'said 3D model;

registering saved views of said 3D model on an interventional system;

visualizing one or more of said registered saved views with said interventional system; and

identifying, from said 3D model, levels of ablation to be applied to a specific area of one or more LA and PV surfaces.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising utilizing post processing software to process said acquisition data so as to generate immersible views of the left atrium and pulmonary veins.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said 3D model and said immersible views are visualized through a display screen associated with said interventional system.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein said obtaining acquisition data is EKG gated.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

performing vessel tracking segmentation of the coronary arteries;

identifying areas of the left atrium and pulmonary veins within a determined proximity with respect to the coronary arteries.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

preparing a translucent 3D rendering of the left atrium and pulmonary veins; and

preparing an opaque rendering of the coronary arteries.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein said levels of ablation are identified through areas of spectral coloring included in a 3D map.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein said medical imaging system is one of a computed tomography system, a magnetic resonance imaging system and an ultrasound system.

19. A method for planning atrial fibrillation (AF) intervention for a patient, the method comprising:

obtaining acquisition data from a cardiac computed tomography (CT) imaging system using a protocol directed toward the left atrium and pulmonary veins;

segmenting said acquisition data using a 3D protocol so as to visualize the left atrium and pulmonary veins;

generating a 3D model of the left atrium and pulmonary veins of the patient;

identifying one or more left atrial (LA) and pulmonary vein (PV) anatomical landmarks on said 3D model;

registering saved views of said 3D model on a fluoroscopy system; and

visualizing one or more of said registered saved views with said fluoroscopy system; and

identifying, from said 3D model, levels of ablation to be applied to a specific area of one or more LA and PV surfaces.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising utilizing post processing software to process said acquisition data so as to generate immersible views of the left atrium and pulmonary veins.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein said 3D model and said immersible views are visualized through a display screen associated with said fluoroscopy system.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein said obtaining acquisition data is EKG gated.

23. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

performing vessel tracking segmentation of the coronary arteries;

identifying areas of the left atrium and pulmonary veins within a determined proximity with respect to the coronary arteries.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

preparing a translucent 3D rendering of the left atrium and pulmonary veins; and

preparing an opaque rendering of the coronary arteries.

25. The method of claim 19, wherein said levels of ablation are identified through areas of spectral coloring included in a 3D map.

26. A system for planning atrial fibrillation (AF) intervention for a patient, comprising:

a medical imaging system for generating acquisition data;

an image generation subsystem for receiving said acquisition data and generating one or more images of the left atrium and pulmonary veins of the patient;

an operator console for identifying one or more left atrial (LA) and pulmonary vein (PV) anatomical landmarks on said one or more images;

a workstation including post processing software for registering saved views of said 3D model on an interventional system; and

wherein said interventional system is configured for visualizing one or more of said registered saved views therewith and identifying levels of ablation to be applied to a specific area of one or more LA and PV surfaces.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein said image generation subsystem is configured with protocols directed for imaging the left atrium and pulmonary veins.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein said post processing software is further configured to process said acquisition data so as to generate immersible views of the left atrium and pulmonary veins.

29. The system of claim 28, further comprising a display screen associated with said interventional system, said display screen for visualizing said 3D model and said immersible views.

30. The system of claim 26, wherein said levels of ablation are identified through areas of spectral coloring included in a 3D map.

31. The system of claim 26, wherein said image generating subsystem is EKG gated.

32. A system for planning atrial fibrillation (AF) intervention for a patient, comprising:

a cardiac computed tomography (CT) imaging system for generating acquisition data, said CT imaging system using a protocol directed toward the left atrium and pulmonary veins;

an image generation subsystem for receiving said acquisition data and generating one or more images of the left atrium and pulmonary veins of the patient;

said image generation subsystem further configured for segmenting said acquisition data using a 3D protocol so as to visualize the left atrium and pulmonary veins;

an operator console for identifying one or more left atrial (LA) and pulmonary vein (PV) anatomical landmarks on said one or more images;

a workstation including post processing software for registering saved views of said 3D model on a fluoroscopy system; and

wherein said fluoroscopy system is configured for visualizing one or more of said registered saved views therewith and identifying levels of ablation to be applied to a specific area of one or more LA and PV surfaces.

33. The system of claim 32, wherein said post processing software is further configured to process said acquisition data so as to generate immersible views of the left atrium and pulmonary veins.

34. The system of claim 33, further comprising a display screen associated with said fluoroscopy system, said display screen for visualizing said 3D model and said immersible views.

35. The system of claim 32, wherein said levels of ablation are identified through areas of spectral coloring included in a 3D map.

36. The system of claim 32, wherein said image generating subsystem is EKG gated.