System for Orientation and Display of Ultrasound Imaging Data

• US 20130109958A1
• Filed: 06/26/2012
• Published: 05/02/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GMBH (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Baumgart, John, Yang, Guang
• Granted Patent: US 9,549,707 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/424
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/12 Arrangements for detecting or locating foreign bodies
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/425 using detectors specially adapted to be used in the interior of the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/12 in body cavities or body tracts, e.g. by using catheters catheters per se A61M25/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4254 using sensors mounted on the probe
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4263 using sensors not mounted on the probe, e.g. mounted on an external reference frame
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/463 characterised by displaying multiple images or images and diagnostic data on one display composite display in devices for short-range imaging with acoustic waves G01S7/52074

Abstract

A system orientates and displays intra-vascular ultrasound imaging data using an acquisition processor and an image data processor. The acquisition processor acquires, during navigation of an ultrasound catheter through a vessel, for multiple individual intra-vascular ultrasound images comprising an image sequence, data representing an individual image and orientation data associated with the individual image indicating orientation of the catheter and individual image with respect to a reference position external to patient anatomy. The image data processor aligns the multiple individual intra-vascular ultrasound images with respect to the external reference position by rotating individual images of the image sequence as necessary to have substantially the same orientation with respect to the external reference position in response to the orientation data.

Claims

1. A system for orientation and display of intra-vascular ultrasound imaging data, comprising:

an acquisition processor for acquiring, during navigation of an ultrasound catheter through a vessel, for a plurality of individual intra-vascular ultrasound images comprising an image sequence,

data representing an individual image and

orientation data associated with said individual image indicating orientation of said catheter and individual image with respect to a reference position; and

an image data processor for aligning said plurality of individual intra-vascular ultrasound images with respect to the reference position by rotating individual images of said image sequence to have substantially the same orientation with respect to said reference position in response to said orientation data.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein

the reference position is external to patient anatomy,

the external reference position is a position of an X-ray radiation source in an X-ray imaging system and

said orientation data associated with said individual image indicates angular rotation of said catheter and individual image with respect to a reference image in said image sequence.

3. A system according to claim 2, wherein

said angular rotation of said catheter is derived from analysis of first and second X-ray images acquired of said vessel corresponding to said reference image and individual intravascular ultrasound image, respectively and acquired at substantially the same times.

4. A system according to claim 3, wherein

said analysis of first and second X-ray images determines said angular rotation by determining rotational movement of a feature on said catheter between said first and second X-ray images.

5. A system according to claim 1, wherein

said reference position is a position of a source of electro-magnetic radiation.

6. A system according to claim 1, wherein

said reference position is a position of a radiation signal source and

said orientation data associated with said individual image indicates angular rotation of said catheter with respect to said source and is derived from analysis of an X-ray image acquired of said vessel and ultrasound catheter corresponding to said individual image and acquired at substantially the same time as said individual image.

7. A system according to claim 6, wherein

said angular rotation of said catheter with respect to said source is derived from analysis of said X-ray image in response to a radio-opaque marker around the circumference of the catheter comprising a 2-dimensional X-ray profile uniquely identifying angular rotation of the catheter in said image.

8. A system according to claim 1, wherein

said reference position is a position of a radiation signal source and

said orientation data associated with said individual image indicates angular rotation of said catheter with respect to said source and is derived from signal data acquired from a radiation detector array around the circumference of said ultrasound catheter.

9. A system according to claim 8, wherein

said radiation detector array comprises an array of individual radiation microdetectors and said signal data indicates X-ray signal strength in a direction of each microdetector and

said image data processor processes said signal data to determine orientation of said catheter with respect to said source by interpolating the direction of the X-ray source from X-ray signal strength detected in each direction of each microdetector.

10. A system according to claim 1, wherein

said reference position is a direction indicating reference point.

11. A system according to claim 1, wherein

said reference position is an X-ray radiation detector plane.

12. An ultrasound catheter system supporting orientation and display of intra-vascular ultrasound imaging data, comprising:

an reference radiation signal source and

an ultrasound catheter including a radiation detector for providing,

an individual image acquired using the ultrasound catheter and

orientation data associated with said individual image and derived using the radiation detector, said orientation data indicating angular rotation of said catheter and the acquired individual image with respect to a reference position external to patient anatomy.

13. A system according to claim 12, wherein

said external reference radiation signal source comprises an X-ray radiation source of an X-ray imaging system and

said radiation detector comprises a radiation detector array of individual radiation microdetectors and provides signal data indicates X-ray signal strength in a direction of each microdetector enabling an image data processor to process said signal data to determine orientation of said catheter with respect to said source by interpolating the direction of the X-ray source from X-ray signal strength detected in each direction of each microdetector.

14. A system according to claim 12, wherein

said external reference position is a position of a radiation signal source of an X-ray imaging system and

said orientation data associated with said individual image indicates angular rotation of said catheter with respect to said source and is derived from analysis of an X-ray image acquired by said imaging system of an ultrasound catheter within a vessel corresponding to said acquired individual image and acquired at substantially the same time as said acquired individual image.

15. A system according to claim 14, wherein

said angular rotation of said catheter with respect to said source is derived from analysis of said X-ray image in response to a radio-opaque marker around the circumference of the catheter comprising a 2-dimensional X-ray profile uniquely identifying angular rotation of the catheter in said image.

16. A method for orientation and display of intra-vascular ultrasound imaging data, comprising the activities of:

acquiring, during navigation of an ultrasound catheter through a vessel, for a plurality of individual intra-vascular ultrasound images comprising an image sequence,

data representing an individual image and

orientation data associated with said individual image indicating orientation of said catheter and individual image with respect to a reference position external to patient anatomy; and

aligning said plurality of individual intra-vascular ultrasound images with respect to the external reference position by rotating individual images of said image sequence to have substantially the same orientation with respect to said external reference position in response to said orientation data.

17. A method according to claim 16, wherein

said external reference position is a position of an X-ray radiation source in an X-ray imaging system and

said orientation data associated with said individual image indicates angular rotation of said catheter and individual image with respect to a reference image in said image sequence.

18. A method according to claim 17, wherein

said angular rotation of said catheter is derived from analysis of first and second X-ray images acquired of said vessel corresponding to said reference image and individual intravascular ultrasound image, respectively and acquired at substantially the same times.

19. A method according to claim 18, wherein

said analysis of first and second X-ray images determines said angular rotation by determining rotational movement of a feature on said catheter between said first and second X-ray images.

20. A method according to claim 16, wherein

said external reference position is a position of a source of electro-magnetic radiation.

21. A method according to claim 16, wherein

said external reference position is a position of a radiation signal source and

said orientation data associated with said individual image indicates angular rotation of said catheter with respect to said source and is derived from analysis of an X-ray image acquired of said vessel and ultrasound catheter corresponding to said individual image and acquired at substantially the same time as said individual image.

22. A method according to claim 21, wherein

said angular rotation of said catheter with respect to said source is derived from analysis of said X-ray image in response to a radio-opaque marker around the circumference of the catheter comprising a 2-dimensional X-ray profile uniquely identifying angular rotation of the catheter in said image.

23. A method according to claim 16, wherein

said external reference position is a position of a radiation signal source and

said orientation data associated with said individual image indicates angular rotation of said catheter with respect to said source and is derived from signal data acquired from a radiation detector array around the circumference of said ultrasound catheter.

24. A method according to claim 23, wherein

said signal data indicates X-ray signal strength in a direction of an individual detector of said array and including the step of

processing said signal data to determine orientation of said catheter with respect to said source by interpolating the direction of the X-ray source from X-ray signal strength detected in each direction of each individual detector of said array.

25. A method used by an ultrasound catheter supporting orientation and display of intra-vascular ultrasound imaging data, comprising the activities of:

detecting an external reference radiation signal emitted from an external source;

generating an individual image using acquired ultrasound data; and

deriving orientation data associated with said individual image using a radiation detector, said orientation data indicating angular rotation of said catheter and the acquired individual image with respect to a reference position.

26. A method according to claim 25, wherein

said external reference radiation signal comprises an X-ray radiation signal and including the steps of

using a radiation detector array of individual radiation detectors providing signal data indicating X-ray signal strength in a direction of each detector and

processing said signal data indicating X-ray signal strength, to determine orientation of a catheter with respect to said source by interpolating the direction of the X-ray source from X-ray signal strength detected in each direction of each detector.

27. A method according to claim 25, wherein

said orientation data associated with said individual image indicates angular rotation of said catheter with respect to said source and is derived from analysis of an X-ray image acquired of said catheter within a vessel corresponding to said acquired individual image and acquired at substantially the same time as said acquired individual image.

28. A method according to claim 25, wherein

said angular rotation of said catheter with respect to said source is derived from analysis of said X-ray image in response to a radio-opaque marker around the circumference of the catheter comprising a 2-dimensional X-ray profile uniquely identifying angular rotation of the catheter in said image.