Model-based pulse wave velocity measurement method

• US 20080275351A1
• Filed: 11/02/2007
• Published: 11/06/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens Corporate Research Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Kirchberg, Klaus J., Lorenz, Christine H.
• Application Number:
  US11/934,253
• Publication Number:
  US 20080275351A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/500
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0285 Measuring or recording phase velocity of blood waves

Abstract

A method for measuring pulse wave velocity through an artery. The method includes: obtaining an image of the artery; generating from the image a model of the artery; selecting two reference points along the artery, such two reference points being separated a predetermined distance, D; observing a change in the model at a first one of the two reference points and a corresponding change in the model at a second one of the two reference points along with a time difference T between the observed changes; and estimating the pulse wave velocity, PWV, in accordance with PWV=D/T.

Claims

1. A method for measuring pulse wave velocity through an artery, comprising:

obtaining an image of the artery;

generating from the image a model of the artery;

selecting two reference points along the artery, such two reference points being separated a predetermined distance, D;

observing a change in the model at a first one of the two reference points and a corresponding change in the model at a second one of the two reference points along with a time difference T between the observed changes;

estimating the pulse wave velocity, PWV, in accordance with PWV=D/T.

2. The method recited in claim 1 wherein the change is a sudden expansion of the artery along a path between the two reference points.

3. The method recited in claim 2 wherein the expansion is observed as an upslope in an artery diameter curve at each of the two reference points.

4. The method recited in claim 3 wherein the reference points are disposed along diameters of the artery.

5. The method recited in claim 4 wherein the reference points are disposed along centerlines of the artery.

6. The method recited in claim 5 wherein the onset of the radius increase in the artery is tracked using a quadratic sub-frame interpolation scheme.

7. The method recited in claim 1 wherein the distance is derived directly from the model by integrating the centerline length of the centerline of the artery between the two reference points.