Image Processing Systems

• US 20170020395A1
• Filed: 10/03/2016
• Published: 01/26/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc. (Intuitive Surgical Holdings, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc. (Intuitive Surgical Holdings, LLC)
• Inventors: MALCHANO, Zachary, PEH, Ruey-Feng, SAADAT, Vahid, COOPER, Ted J., MILLER, David, SWAMINATHAN, Veerappan
• Granted Patent: US 11,622,689 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/05 characterised by the image sensor, e.g. camera, being in the distal end portion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1492 having a flexible, catheter-like structure, e.g. for heart ablation A61B18/1477 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2218/002 Irrigation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0084 for introduction into the body, e.g. by catheters A61B5/1459 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/01 Measuring temperature of body parts ; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0245 by using sensing means generating electric signals, i.e. ECG signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0538 invasively, e.g. using a catheter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/113 occurring during breathing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/283 Invasive
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/349 Detecting specific parameters of the electrocardiograph cycle
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/366 Detecting abnormal QRS complex, e.g. widening
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6852 Catheters
• 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 5/7289 Retrospective gating, i.e. associating measured signals or images with a physiological event after the actual measurement or image acquisition, e.g. by simultaneously recording an additional physiological signal during the measurement or image acquisition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/742 using visual displays A61B5/339 takes precedence

Abstract

Image processing systems are described which utilize various methods and processing algorithms for enhancing or facilitating visual detection and/or sensing modalities for images captured in vivo by an intravascular visualization and treatment catheter. Such assemblies are configured to deliver energy, such as RF ablation, to an underlying target tissue for treatment in a controlled manner while directly visualizing the tissue during the ablation process.

Claims

1-25. -25. (canceled)

26. A method of imaging a tissue region, comprising:

visualizing one or more lesions over a tissue region within a body via an imaging catheter by viewing the tissue region through a viewing region purged of blood by a fluid;

identifying a location of the one or more lesions relative to one another over the tissue region, the identifying performed with a computer;

visually displaying the relative locations of each of the one or more tissue regions, the visually displaying performed with the computer,

registering ablation parameters for each of the one or more lesions, the registering performed with the computer; and

visually displaying the registered ablation parameters with the relative locations of each of the one or more tissue regions, the visually displaying performed with the computer.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein the visualizing comprises visualizing cardiac tissue within a chamber of a heart.

28. The method of claim 26 further comprising indicating a direction of a first lesion relative to a second lesion.

29. The method of claim 28 wherein the indication of the direction of the first lesion is superimposed on a field of view image generated by the imaging catheter of the second lesion.

30. The method of claim 26 wherein the visually displaying includes displaying a map including a first representation of a first lesion of the more lesions and a second representation of a second lesion of the one or more lesions.

31. The method of claim 30 wherein the map is displayed on a common display with a field of view image generated by the imaging catheter.

32. The method of claim 26, wherein the viewing field is surrounded by an open hood.

33. A method of imaging a tissue region, comprising:

visualizing one or more lesions in vivo over a tissue region within a body through an intravascular imaging catheter, the visualizing resulting in a plurality of visual images of the one or more lesions;

measuring a temperature or an electrical potential of the one or more lesions, the measuring performed with a computer; and

overlaying a gradient indicative of the temperature or the electrical potential upon one of the plurality of visual images of the one or more lesions captured in vivo, the overlaying performed with the computer;

registering ablation parameters to the one of the plurality of visual images for each of the one or more lesions, the registering performed with the computer; and

displaying the one of the plurality of visual images with the overlaid gradient and the registered ablation parameters, the displaying performed with the computer.

34. The method of claim 33 wherein the visualizing comprises visualizing cardiac tissue within a chamber of a heart.

35. The method of claim 33 wherein the measuring comprises sensing the temperature or the electrical potential via one or more sensors positioned on the imaging-catheter.

36. The method of claim 33 wherein the overlaying comprises imaging the one or more lesions during an ablation procedure.

37. The method of claim 33 further comprising displaying the gradient superimposed upon the visual image.

38. The method of claim 37 wherein the displaying comprises displaying one or more visual images of the one or more lesions captured incrementally over time during an ablation procedure.

39. The method of claim 33 further comprising monitoring the measured temperature or electric potential of the one or more lesions relative to a threshold value.

40. A method of imaging a tissue region, comprising:

visualizing one or more lesions in vivo over a tissue region within a body through an intravascular imaging catheter;

recording a color histogram of the one or more lesions during an ablation procedure, the recording performed with a computer;

monitoring a rate of change of the color histogram during the ablation procedure, the monitoring performed with the computer;

detecting an appearance of a color indicative of ablation completion of the one or more lesions, the detecting performed with the computer; and

displaying the color histogram, the displaying performed with the computer.

41. The method of claim 40 wherein visualizing comprises visualizing cardiac tissue within a chamber of a heart.

42. The method of claim 40 wherein monitoring a rate of change further comprises monitoring a surface reflectance of the one or more lesions.

43. The method of claim 40 wherein detecting an appearance comprises detecting for the appearance of a white, brown, yellow, or black color upon the one or more lesions.

44. The method of claim 40 further comprising

responsive to the detection of an appearance of a color indicative of ablation completion, generating an indicator of completion.