Methods and systems for specifying a blood vessel sleeve

• US 20080058633A1
• Filed: 07/31/2007
• Published: 03/06/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gearbox LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Searete LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Dacey, Ralph, Derdeyn, Colin, Dowling, Joshua, Zipfel, Gregory, Boyden, Edward, Leuthardt, Eric, Hyde, Roderick, Tegreene, Clarence, Myhrvold, Nathan, Wood, Lowell, Ishikawa, Muriel, Wood, Victoria
• Granted Patent: US 8,095,382 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/407
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02007 Evaluating blood vessel condition, e.g. elasticity, compliance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/481 involving the use of contrast agents
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/504 for diagnosis of blood vessels, e.g. by angiography
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/06 Blood vessels
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/30942 for designing or making customized prostheses, e.g. using templates, CT or NMR scans, finite-element analysis or CAD-CAM techniques
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30065 thermoplastic, i.e. softening or fusing when heated, and hardening and becoming rigid again when cooled
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30075 swellable, e.g. when wetted
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30077 shrinkable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30087 piezoelectric
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30088 Phase change materials [PCM], e.g. for storing latent heat
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30199 Three-dimensional shapes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30617 Visible markings for adjusting, locating or measuring
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3071 Identification means; Administration of patients
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0061 swellable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0066 shrinkable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0071 thermoplastic
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/008 Phase change materials [PCM], e.g. for storing latent heat
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0063 Three-dimensional shapes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2240/002 Designing or making customized prostheses
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0085 Identification means; Administration of patients
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0097 : Visible markings, e.g. indicia
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 64/386 : Data acquisition or data processing for additive manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/7534 : Cardiovascular protheses
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 50/00 : Data acquisition or data processing for additive manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 80/00 : Products made by additive manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 : Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 : Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/40 : relating to mechanical, radiation or invasive therapies, e.g. surgery, laser therapy, dialysis or acupuncture
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/50 : for simulation or modelling of medical disorders

Abstract

Methods, apparatuses, computer program products, devices and systems are described that include accepting three-dimensional blood vessel data; applying a sleeve-fitting algorithm to the three-dimensional blood vessel data; and presenting a sleeve-fitting algorithm output in response to said applying the sleeve-fitting algorithm to the three-dimensional blood vessel data.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

accepting three-dimensional blood vessel data;

applying a sleeve-fitting algorithm to the three-dimensional blood vessel data; and

presenting a sleeve-fitting algorithm output in response to said applying the sleeve-fitting algorithm to the three-dimensional blood vessel data.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the accepting three-dimensional blood vessel data comprises:

accepting blood vessel imaging data as the three-dimensional blood vessel data.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the accepting three-dimensional blood vessel data comprises:

accepting blood vessel modeling data as the three-dimensional blood vessel data.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the applying a sleeve-fitting algorithm to the three-dimensional blood vessel data comprises:

extracting two or more sets of data, each data set defining a contour of a blood vessel sleeve at least partly based on the three-dimensional blood vessel data; and

interpolating data that represent one or more regions between two or more contours of a blood vessel sleeve.

17. The method of claim 1 wherein the applying a sleeve-fitting algorithm to the three-dimensional blood vessel data comprises:

applying a garment-fitting algorithm to the three-dimensional blood vessel data.

18. The method of claim 1 wherein the applying a sleeve-fitting algorithm to the three-dimensional blood vessel data comprises:

applying a scale factor to the three-dimensional blood vessel data.

19. The method of claim 1 wherein the applying a sleeve-fitting algorithm to the three-dimensional blood vessel data comprises:

assigning a set of position coordinates to the three-dimensional blood vessel data and assigning counterpart position coordinates to a blood vessel sleeve model to obtain blood vessel sleeve dimensions.

23. The method of claim 1 wherein the presenting a sleeve-fitting algorithm output in response to said applying the sleeve-fitting algorithm to the three-dimensional blood vessel data comprises:

presenting blood vessel sleeve dimensions in response to said applying the sleeve-fitting algorithm to the three-dimensional blood vessel data.

27. The method of claim 1 wherein the presenting a sleeve-fitting algorithm output in response to said applying the sleeve-fitting algorithm to the three-dimensional blood vessel data comprises:

presenting a sleeve-fitting algorithm output that includes sleeve dimensions and specifications for closing the sleeve in response to said applying the sleeve-fitting algorithm to the three-dimensional blood vessel data.

29. The method of claim 1 wherein the presenting a sleeve-fitting algorithm output in response to said applying the sleeve-fitting algorithm to the three-dimensional blood vessel data comprises:

presenting specifications for a set of blood vessel sleeves in response to said applying the sleeve-fitting algorithm to the three-dimensional blood vessel data.

33. The method of claim 1 wherein the presenting a sleeve-fitting algorithm output in response to said applying the sleeve-fitting algorithm to the three-dimensional blood vessel data comprises:

presenting specifications for a blood vessel sleeve and specifications for at least one indicator on the blood vessel sleeve in response to said applying the sleeve-fitting algorithm to the three-dimensional blood vessel data.

40. The method of claim 33 wherein the presenting specifications for a blood vessel sleeve and specifications for at least one indicator on the blood vessel sleeve in response to said applying the sleeve-fitting algorithm to the three-dimensional blood vessel data comprises:

presenting specifications for a blood vessel sleeve and specifications for at least one indicator on the blood vessel sleeve relating to a color coding of the blood vessel sleeve.

43. The method of claim 1 wherein the presenting a sleeve-fitting algorithm output in response to said applying the sleeve-fitting algorithm to the three-dimensional blood vessel data comprises:

presenting specifications for a blood vessel sleeve and specifications for at least one contrast agent within the material of the blood vessel sleeve in response to said applying the sleeve-fitting algorithm to the three-dimensional blood vessel data.

44. The method of claim 1 wherein the presenting a sleeve-fitting algorithm output in response to said applying the sleeve-fitting algorithm to the three-dimensional blood vessel data comprises:

presenting specifications for a blood vessel sleeve, and specifications for at least one indicator of deformation or wear to be in or on the blood vessel sleeve in response to said applying the sleeve-fitting algorithm to the three-dimensional blood vessel data.

45. The method of claim 1 wherein the presenting a sleeve-fitting algorithm output in response to said applying the sleeve-fitting algorithm to the three-dimensional blood vessel data comprises:

presenting specifications for a blood vessel sleeve as rapid-prototyping device instructions in response to said applying the sleeve-fitting algorithm to the three-dimensional blood vessel data.

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48. A method for specifying a blood vessel sleeve comprising:

obtaining blood vessel data pertaining to an individual;

converting the blood vessel data pertaining to the individual into a three-dimensional blood vessel model;

applying a sleeve-fitting algorithm to the three-dimensional blood vessel model; and

presenting a sleeve-fitting algorithm output in response to said applying the sleeve-fitting algorithm to the three-dimensional blood vessel model.

49. The method of claim 48 wherein the obtaining blood vessel data pertaining to an individual comprises:

obtaining geometric blood vessel data as the blood vessel data pertaining to the individual.

50. The method of claim 48 wherein the obtaining blood vessel data pertaining to an individual comprises:

obtaining cross-sectional blood vessel data as the blood vessel data pertaining to the individual.

51. The method of claim 48 wherein the obtaining blood vessel data pertaining to an individual comprises:

obtaining at least one of magnetic resonance imaging data, computed tomography data, ultrasound data, optical imaging data, or angiography data as the blood vessel data pertaining to the individual.

52. The method of claim 48 wherein the obtaining blood vessel data pertaining to an individual comprises:

obtaining at least one of magnetic resonance angiography data, computed tomography angiography data, Doppler ultrasound, or cerebral angiography data as the blood vessel data pertaining to the individual.

53. The method of claim 48 wherein the obtaining blood vessel data pertaining to an individual comprises:

obtaining at least one of aneurysm data or branched blood vessel data as the blood vessel data pertaining to the individual.

54. The method of claim 48 wherein the converting the blood vessel data pertaining to the individual into a three-dimensional blood vessel model comprises:

mapping the blood vessel data pertaining to the individual to a three-dimensional blood vessel model.

55. The method of claim 48 wherein the converting the blood vessel data pertaining to the individual into a three-dimensional blood vessel model comprises:

extracting two or more sets of data, each data set defining a contour of a blood vessel at least partly based on the blood vessel data pertaining to the individual; and

interpolating data that represent one or more regions between two or more contours.

56. The method of claim 55 wherein the extracting two or more sets of data, each data set defining a contour of a blood vessel at least partly based on the blood vessel data pertaining to the individual;

and

interpolating data that represent one or more regions between two or more contours comprises;

extracting two or more sets of data, each data set defining a contour of a blood vessel at least partly based on at least one of a light intensity matrix or a color intensity matrix.

57. The method of claim 48 wherein the converting the blood vessel data pertaining to the individual into a three-dimensional blood vessel model comprises:

converting the blood vessel data pertaining to the individual into a three-dimensional mathematical model.

58. The method of claim 48 wherein the converting the blood vessel data pertaining to the individual into a three-dimensional blood vessel model comprises:

converting the blood vessel data pertaining to the individual into a three-dimensional image model.

59. The method of claim 48 wherein the converting the blood vessel data pertaining to the individual into a three-dimensional blood vessel model comprises:

converting the blood vessel data pertaining to the individual into a three-dimensional mesh model.

60. The method of claim 48 wherein the converting the blood vessel data pertaining to the individual into a three-dimensional blood vessel model comprises:

converting the blood vessel data pertaining to the individual into a three-dimensional blood vessel model, the three-dimensional blood vessel model including at least one of blood vessel diameter and length data, blood vessel branching data, or blood vessel curvature data.

61. The method of claim 48 wherein the applying a sleeve-fitting algorithm to the three-dimensional blood vessel model comprises:

applying a sleeve-fitting algorithm to the three-dimensional blood vessel model to determine blood vessel sleeve dimensions.

62. The method of claim 48 wherein the applying a sleeve-fitting algorithm to the three-dimensional blood vessel model comprises:

applying a garment-fitting algorithm to the three-dimensional blood vessel model to obtain blood vessel sleeve dimensions.

63. The method of claim 48 wherein the applying a sleeve-fitting algorithm to the three-dimensional blood vessel model comprises:

applying a scale factor to the three-dimensional blood vessel model to obtain blood vessel sleeve dimensions.

64. The method of claim 48 wherein the applying a sleeve-fitting algorithm to the three-dimensional blood vessel model comprises:

assigning position coordinates to the three-dimensional blood vessel model and assigning counterpart position coordinates to a blood vessel sleeve model to obtain blood vessel sleeve dimensions.

65. The method of claim 48 wherein the applying a sleeve-fitting algorithm to the three-dimensional blood vessel model comprises:

applying a sleeve-fitting algorithm to the three-dimensional blood vessel model to determine dimensions of a blood vessel sleeve fitted to the interior of a blood vessel.

66. The method of claim 48 wherein the applying a sleeve-fitting algorithm to the three-dimensional blood vessel model comprises:

applying a sleeve-fitting algorithm to the three-dimensional blood vessel model to determine dimensions of a blood vessel sleeve fitted to the exterior of a blood vessel.

67. The method of claim 48 wherein the presenting a sleeve-fitting algorithm output in response to said applying the sleeve-fitting algorithm to the three-dimensional blood vessel model comprises:

presenting a blood vessel sleeve model in response to applying the sleeve-fitting algorithm to the three-dimensional blood vessel model.

68. The method of claim 48 wherein the presenting a sleeve-fitting algorithm output in response to said applying the sleeve-fitting algorithm to the three-dimensional blood vessel model comprises:

presenting blood vessel sleeve dimensions in response to applying the sleeve-fitting algorithm to the three-dimensional blood vessel model.

69. The method of claim 48 wherein the presenting a sleeve-fitting algorithm output in response to said applying the sleeve-fitting algorithm to the three-dimensional blood vessel model comprises:

displaying a sleeve-fitting algorithm output at a user interface in response to said applying the sleeve-fitting algorithm to the three-dimensional blood vessel model.

70. The method of claim 48 wherein the presenting a sleeve-fitting algorithm output in response to said applying the sleeve-fitting algorithm to the three-dimensional blood vessel model comprises:

presenting an image of blood vessel sleeve dimensions on a display in response to said applying the sleeve-fitting algorithm to the three-dimensional blood vessel model.

71. A system comprising:

circuitry for accepting three-dimensional blood vessel data;

circuitry for applying a sleeve-fitting algorithm to the three-dimensional blood vessel data; and

circuitry for presenting a sleeve-fitting algorithm output in response to said applying the sleeve-fitting algorithm to the three-dimensional blood vessel data.

72. The system of claim 71 wherein the circuitry for accepting three-dimensional blood vessel data comprises:

circuitry for receiving three-dimensional blood vessel data at a user interface.

73. The system of claim 71 wherein the circuitry for accepting three-dimensional blood vessel data comprises:

circuitry for accepting geometric blood vessel data as the three-dimensional blood vessel data.

77. The system of claim 71 wherein the circuitry for accepting three-dimensional blood vessel data comprises:

circuitry for accepting blood vessel data in a digital imaging and communications in medicine format as the three-dimensional blood vessel data.

79. The system of claim 71 wherein the circuitry for accepting three-dimensional blood vessel data comprises:

circuitry for accepting three-dimensional aorta data as the three-dimensional blood vessel data.

80. The system of claim 71 wherein the circuitry for accepting three-dimensional blood vessel data comprises:

circuitry for accepting three-dimensional cerebral artery data as the three-dimensional blood vessel data.

81. The system of claim 71 wherein the circuitry for accepting three-dimensional blood vessel data comprises:

circuitry for accepting three-dimensional aneurysm or branched blood vessel data as the three-dimensional blood vessel data.

82. The system of claim 71 wherein the circuitry for accepting three-dimensional blood vessel data comprises:

circuitry for accepting a three-dimensional blood vessel model as the three-dimensional blood vessel data.

83. The system of claim 71 wherein the circuitry for applying a sleeve-fitting algorithm to the three-dimensional blood vessel data comprises:

circuitry for mapping the three-dimensional blood vessel data to a blood vessel sleeve model.

84. The system of claim 71 wherein the circuitry for applying a sleeve-fitting algorithm to the three-dimensional blood vessel data comprises:

circuitry for extracting two or more sets of data, each data set defining a contour of a blood vessel sleeve at least partly based on the three-dimensional blood vessel data; and

circuitry for interpolating data that represent one or more regions between two or more contours of a blood vessel sleeve.

87. The system of claim 71 wherein the circuitry for applying a sleeve-fitting algorithm to the three-dimensional blood vessel data comprises:

circuitry for applying a garment-fitting algorithm to the three-dimensional blood vessel data.

88. The system of claim 71 wherein the circuitry for applying a sleeve-fitting algorithm to the three-dimensional blood vessel data comprises:

circuitry for applying a scale factor to the three-dimensional blood vessel data.

91. The system of claim 71 wherein the circuitry for applying a sleeve-fitting algorithm to the three-dimensional blood vessel data comprises:

circuitry for applying a sleeve-fitting algorithm to the three-dimensional blood vessel data to determine dimensions of a blood vessel sleeve fitted to the interior of a blood vessel.

93. The system of claim 71 wherein the circuitry for presenting a sleeve-fitting algorithm output in response to said applying the sleeve-fitting algorithm to the three-dimensional blood vessel data comprises:

circuitry for presenting blood vessel sleeve dimensions in response to said applying the sleeve-fitting algorithm to the three-dimensional blood vessel data.

94. The system of claim 71 wherein the circuitry for presenting a sleeve-fitting algorithm output in response to said applying the sleeve-fitting algorithm to the three-dimensional blood vessel data comprises:

circuitry for presenting a blood vessel sleeve model in response to said applying the sleeve-fitting algorithm to the three-dimensional blood vessel data.

95. The system of claim 71 wherein the circuitry for presenting a sleeve-fitting algorithm output in response to said applying the sleeve-fitting algorithm to the three-dimensional blood vessel data comprises:

circuitry for displaying the sleeve-fitting algorithm output at a user interface in response to said applying the sleeve-fitting algorithm to the three-dimensional blood vessel data.

99. The system of claim 71 wherein the circuitry for presenting a sleeve-fitting algorithm output in response to said applying the sleeve-fitting algorithm to the three-dimensional blood vessel data comprises:

circuitry for presenting specifications for a set of blood vessel sleeves in response to said applying the sleeve-fitting algorithm to the three-dimensional blood vessel data.

115. The system of claim 71 wherein the circuitry for presenting a sleeve-fitting algorithm output in response to said applying the sleeve-fitting algorithm to the three-dimensional blood vessel data comprises:

circuitry for presenting specifications for a blood vessel sleeve as rapid-prototyping device instructions in response to said applying the sleeve-fitting algorithm to the three-dimensional blood vessel data.

116. The system of claim 71 wherein the circuitry for presenting a sleeve-fitting algorithm output in response to said applying the sleeve-fitting algorithm to the three-dimensional blood vessel data comprises:

circuitry for presenting specifications for a blood vessel sleeve as laser-cutting device instructions in response to said applying the sleeve-fitting algorithm to the three-dimensional blood vessel data.

117. The system of claim 71 wherein the circuitry for presenting a sleeve-fitting algorithm output in response to said applying the sleeve-fitting algorithm to the three-dimensional blood vessel data comprises:

circuitry for presenting specifications for a blood vessel sleeve as three-dimensional printing device instructions in response to said applying the sleeve-fitting algorithm to the three-dimensional blood vessel data.

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118. A system for specifying a blood vessel sleeve comprising:

circuitry for obtaining blood vessel data pertaining to an individual;

circuitry for converting the blood vessel data pertaining to the individual into a three-dimensional blood vessel model;

circuitry for applying a sleeve-fitting algorithm to the three-dimensional blood vessel model; and

circuitry for presenting a sleeve-fitting algorithm output in response to said applying the sleeve-fitting algorithm to the three-dimensional blood vessel model.

119. The system of claim 118 wherein the circuitry for obtaining blood vessel data pertaining to an individual comprises:

circuitry for obtaining geometric blood vessel data as the blood vessel data pertaining to the individual.

120. The system of claim 118 wherein the circuitry for obtaining blood vessel data pertaining to an individual comprises:

circuitry for obtaining cross-sectional blood vessel data as the blood vessel data pertaining to the individual.

121. The system of claim 118 wherein the circuitry for obtaining blood vessel data pertaining to an individual comprises:

circuitry for obtaining at least one of magnetic resonance imaging data, computed tomography data, ultrasound data, optical imaging data, or angiography data as the blood vessel data pertaining to the individual.

122. The system of claim 118 wherein the circuitry for obtaining blood vessel data pertaining to an individual comprises:

circuitry for obtaining at least one of magnetic resonance angiography data, computed tomography angiography data, Doppler ultrasound, or cerebral angiography data as the blood vessel data pertaining to the individual.

123. The system of claim 118 wherein the circuitry for obtaining blood vessel data pertaining to an individual comprises:

circuitry for obtaining at least one of aneurysm data or branched blood vessel data as the blood vessel data pertaining to the individual.

124. The system of claim 118 wherein the circuitry for converting the blood vessel data pertaining to the individual into a three-dimensional blood vessel model comprises:

circuitry for mapping the blood vessel data pertaining to the individual to a three-dimensional blood vessel model.

125. The system of claim 118 wherein the circuitry for converting the blood vessel data pertaining to the individual into a three-dimensional blood vessel model comprises:

circuitry for extracting two or more sets of data, each data set defining a contour of a blood vessel at least partly based on the blood vessel data pertaining to the individual; and

circuitry for interpolating data that represent one or more regions between two or more contours.

126. The system of claim 125 wherein the circuitry for extracting two or more sets of data, each data set defining a contour of a blood vessel at least partly based on the blood vessel data pertaining to the individual;

and

interpolating data that represent one or more regions between two or more contours comprises;

circuitry for extracting two or more sets of data, each data set defining a contour of a blood vessel at least partly based on at least one of a light intensity matrix or a color intensity matrix.

127. The system of claim 118 wherein the circuitry for converting the blood vessel data pertaining to the individual into a three-dimensional blood vessel model comprises:

circuitry for converting the blood vessel data pertaining to the individual into a three-dimensional mathematical model.

128. The system of claim 118 wherein the circuitry for converting the blood vessel data pertaining to the individual into a three-dimensional blood vessel model comprises:

circuitry for converting the blood vessel data pertaining to the individual into a three-dimensional image model.

129. The system of claim 118 wherein the circuitry for converting the blood vessel data pertaining to the individual into a three-dimensional blood vessel model comprises:

circuitry for converting the blood vessel data pertaining to the individual into a three-dimensional mesh model.

130. The system of claim 118 wherein the circuitry for converting the blood vessel data pertaining to the individual into a three-dimensional blood vessel model comprises:

circuitry for converting the blood vessel data pertaining to the individual into a three-dimensional blood vessel model, the three-dimensional blood vessel model including at least one of blood vessel diameter and length data, blood vessel branching data, or blood vessel curvature data.

131. The system of claim 118 wherein the circuitry for applying a sleeve-fitting algorithm to the three-dimensional blood vessel model comprises:

circuitry for applying a sleeve-fitting algorithm to the three-dimensional blood vessel model to determine blood vessel sleeve dimensions.

132. The system of claim 118 wherein the circuitry for applying a sleeve-fitting algorithm to the three-dimensional blood vessel model comprises:

circuitry for applying a garment-fitting algorithm to the three-dimensional blood vessel model to obtain blood vessel sleeve dimensions.

133. The system of claim 118 wherein the circuitry for applying a sleeve-fitting algorithm to the three-dimensional blood vessel model comprises:

circuitry for applying a scale factor to the three-dimensional blood vessel model to obtain blood vessel sleeve dimensions.

134. The system of claim 118 wherein the circuitry for applying a sleeve-fitting algorithm to the three-dimensional blood vessel model comprises:

circuitry for assigning position coordinates to the three-dimensional blood vessel model and assigning counterpart position coordinates to a blood vessel sleeve model to obtain blood vessel sleeve dimensions.

135. The system of claim 118 wherein the circuitry for applying a sleeve-fitting algorithm to the three-dimensional blood vessel model comprises:

circuitry for applying a sleeve-fitting algorithm to the three-dimensional blood vessel model to determine dimensions of a blood vessel sleeve fitted to the interior of a blood vessel.

136. The system of claim 118 wherein the circuitry for applying a sleeve-fitting algorithm to the three-dimensional blood vessel model comprises:

circuitry for applying a sleeve-fitting algorithm to the three-dimensional blood vessel model to determine dimensions of a blood vessel sleeve fitted to the exterior of a blood vessel.

137. The system of claim 118 wherein the circuitry for presenting a sleeve-fitting algorithm output in response to said applying the sleeve-fitting algorithm to the three-dimensional blood vessel model comprises:

circuitry for presenting a blood vessel sleeve model in response to applying the sleeve-fitting algorithm to the three-dimensional blood vessel model.

138. The system of claim 118 wherein the circuitry for presenting a sleeve-fitting algorithm output in response to said applying the sleeve-fitting algorithm to the three-dimensional blood vessel model comprises:

circuitry for presenting blood vessel sleeve dimensions in response to applying the sleeve-fitting algorithm to the three-dimensional blood vessel model.

139. The system of claim 118 wherein the circuitry for presenting a sleeve-fitting algorithm output in response to said applying the sleeve-fitting algorithm to the three-dimensional blood vessel model comprises:

circuitry for displaying a sleeve-fitting algorithm output at a user interface in response to said applying the sleeve-fitting algorithm to the three-dimensional blood vessel model.

140. The system of claim 118 wherein the circuitry for presenting a sleeve-fitting algorithm output in response to said applying the sleeve-fitting algorithm to the three-dimensional blood vessel model comprises:

circuitry for presenting an image of blood vessel sleeve dimensions on a display in response to said applying the sleeve-fitting algorithm to the three-dimensional blood vessel model.

141. A computer program product comprising:

a signal-bearing medium bearing

(a) one or more instructions for accepting three-dimensional blood vessel data;

(b) one or more instructions for applying a sleeve-fitting algorithm to the three-dimensional blood vessel data; and

(c) one or more instructions for presenting a sleeve-fitting algorithm output in response to said applying the sleeve-fitting algorithm to the three-dimensional blood vessel data.

142. The computer program product of claim 141, wherein the signal-bearing medium includes a computer-readable medium.

143. The computer program product of claim 141, wherein the signal-bearing medium includes a recordable medium.

144. The computer program product of claim 141, wherein the signal-bearing medium includes a communications medium.

145. A system comprising:

a computing device; and

instructions that when executed on the computing device cause the computing device to

(a) accept three-dimensional blood vessel data;

(b) apply a sleeve-fitting algorithm to the three-dimensional blood vessel data; and

(c) present a sleeve-fitting algorithm output in response to said applying the sleeve-fitting algorithm to the three-dimensional blood vessel data.

146. The system of claim 145 wherein the computing device comprises:

one or more of a personal digital assistant (PDA), a laptop computer, a tablet personal computer, a networked computer, a computing system comprised of a cluster of processors, a computing system comprised of a cluster of servers, a workstation computer, and/or a desktop computer.

147. The system of claim 145 wherein the computing device is operable to present a sleeve-fitting algorithm output from at least one memory.

148. A computer program product comprising:

a signal-bearing medium bearing

(a) one or more instructions for obtaining blood vessel data pertaining to an individual;

(b) one or more instructions for converting the blood vessel data pertaining to the individual into a three-dimensional blood vessel model;

(c) one or more instructions for applying a sleeve-fitting algorithm to the three-dimensional blood vessel model; and

(d) one or more instructions for presenting a sleeve-fitting algorithm output in response to said applying the sleeve-fitting algorithm to the three-dimensional blood vessel model.

149. The computer program product of claim 148, wherein the signal-bearing medium includes a computer-readable medium.

150. The computer program product of claim 148, wherein the signal-bearing medium includes a recordable medium.

151. The computer program product of claim 148, wherein the signal-bearing medium includes a communications medium.

152. A system comprising:

a computing device; and

instructions that when executed on the computing device cause the computing device to

(a) obtain blood vessel data pertaining to an individual;

(b) convert the blood vessel data pertaining to the individual into a three-dimensional model

(c) apply a sleeve-fitting algorithm to the three-dimensional model; and

(d) present a sleeve-fitting algorithm output in response to said applying the sleeve-fitting algorithm to the three-dimensional model.

153. The system of claim 152 wherein the computing device comprises:

one or more of a personal digital assistant (PDA), a laptop computer, a tablet personal computer, a networked computer, a computing system comprised of a cluster of processors, a computing system comprised of a cluster of servers, a workstation computer, and/or a desktop computer.

154. The system of claim 152 wherein the computing device is operable to present a sleeve-fitting algorithm output from at least one memory.