Catheter for obtaining three-dimensional reconstruction of a vascular lumen and wall

• US 5,771,895 A
• Filed: 04/24/1996
• Issued: 06/30/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cornelis J. Slager
• Original Assignee: Cornelis J. Slager
• Inventors: Slager, Cornelis J.
• Primary Examiner(s): JAWORSKI, FRANCIS J
• Application Number:
  US08/637,318
• Time in Patent Office: 797 Days
• Field of Search: 128/660.03, 128/662.06, 128/653.1, 128/772
• US Class Current: 600/462
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02007 Evaluating blood vessel condition, e.g. elasticity, compliance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/541 involving acquisition triggered by a physiological signal
• 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 8/445 Details of catheter construction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/483 involving the acquisition of a 3D volume of data
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/543 involving acquisition triggered by a physiological signal
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/916 Ultrasound 3-D imaging

Abstract

A catheter system and method of use thereof to obtain accurate three-dimensional reconstruction of a body vessel. The method employs X-ray angiography (ANG) in combination with intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) to overcome limitations existing in present three-dimensional reconstruction techniques using a method termed ANGUS. The IVUS data represent a cylindrical stack of cross-sections. A 3-D path of the catheter axis is reconstructed from two X-ray images, after which the stack of IVUS contours is wrapped around this 3-D catheter centerline. In order to establish the correct rotational position of the stack around the centerline, use is made of "landmarks" or catheter features which are visible in angiograms, as well as in a simulation of these angiograms derived from the reconstructed 3-D contour.

Claims

1. A catheter for imaging a vessel to obtain three-dimensional reconstruction of a lumen of the vessel in a region of interest, said catheter comprising:

an elongate sheath having proximal and distal regions, said distal region adapted to enter the vessel while said proximal region extends outside of the vessel to permit control of said catheter, said distal region further adapted to receive an ultrasound transducer and to permit rotation of said transducer, and simultaneous longitudinal translation of said transducer relative to said sheath along a pull-back trajectory to obtain a stack of images during pull-back; and

at least four radiopaque markers disposed about the distal region of said sheath,

wherein said markers enable determination of the pull-back trajectory in the region of interest.

2. The catheter of claim 1, wherein said radiopaque markers are separated by equally spaced distances along the catheter longitudinal centerline.

3. The catheter of claim 1, wherein said radiopaque markers comprise thin metal rings mounted on the distal region of said sheath.

4. The catheter of claim 1, wherein said radiopaque markers are arranged in a helical pattern along said elongate sheath.

5. The catheter of claim 1, further comprising at least one acoustical indexing marker disposed about the distal region of said sheath.

6. The catheter of claim 5, wherein said acoustical indexing marker extends longitudinally parallel to the catheter longitudinal centerline.

7. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the markers are spaced by distances of no greater than 20 millimeters as measured along the catheter longitudinal centerline.

8. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the markers are spaced by distances of no less than 0.8 millimeters as measured along the catheter longitudinal centerline.

9. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the markers are on said sheath.

10. The catheter of claim 1, further comprising a guidewire operably disposed within the distal region of said sheath, wherein the markers are on said guidewire.

11. The catheter of claim 1, further comprising a drive shaft operably connected to the ultrasound transducer, wherein the markers are on said drive shaft.

12. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the markers are disposed about a region of said sheath which lies within the vessel at the region of interest and overlaps longitudinally with a segment of the pull-back trajectory.

13. The catheter of claim 1, further comprising an imaging core or imaging catheter adapted to operate within said elongate sheath, said imaging core or catheter having an ultrasound transducer operably disposed at a distal region thereof.

14. The catheter of claim 13, wherein said imaging core or imaging catheter is substantially more flexible than said elongate sheath.

15. The catheter of claim 13, wherein said imaging core or imaging catheter further includes an angiographic orientation marker which is radially fixed relative to said ultrasound transducer to permit X-ray visualization of rotational orientation of said ultrasound transducer.

16. The catheter of claim 13, wherein said transducer further includes a radiopaque component.

17. A catheter for imaging a vessel to obtain three-dimensional reconstruction of a lumen of the vessel in a region of interest, said catheter comprising:

an elongate sheath having proximal and distal regions, said distal region adapted to enter the vessel while said proximal region extends outside of the vessel to permit control of said catheter, said distal region further adapted to receive an ultrasound transducer and to permit rotation of said transducer, and simultaneous longitudinal translation of said transducer relative to said sheath alonge a pull-back trajectory to obtain a stack of images during pull-back; and

said catheter having associated therewith a gradual change in X-ray radiopacity extending longitudinally along a distal region thereof,

wherein said change in radiopacity enables determination of the pull-back trajectory in the region of interest.

18. The catheter of claim 17, wherein said gradual change in X-ray radiopacity comprises doping material incorporated into the distal region of said sheath.

19. The catheter of claim 17, further comprising at least one acoustical indexing marker disposed about the distal region of said sheath.

20. The catheter of claim 19, wherein said acoustical indexing marker extends longitudinally parallel to the catheter longitudinal centerline.

21. The catheter of claim 17, wherein said change in radiopacity is on said sheath.

22. The catheter of claim 17, further comprising a guidewire operably disposed within the distal region of said sheath, wherein the change in radiopacity is on said guidewire.

23. The catheter of claim 17, further comprising a drive shaft operably connected to the ultrasound transducer, wherein the change in radiopacity is on said drive shaft.

24. The catheter of claim 17, wherein the change in radiopacity occurs about a region of said sheath which lies within the vessel at the region of interest and overlaps longitudinally with a segment of the pull-back trajectory.

25. A catheter for imaging a vessel to obtain three-dimensional reconstruction of a lumen of the vessel in a region of interest, said catheter comprising:

an elongate sheath having proximal and distal regions, said distal region adapted to enter the vessel while said proximal region extends outside of the vessel to permit control of said catheter, said distal region further adapted to receive an ultrasound transducer and to permit rotation of said transducer, and simultaneous longitudinal translation of said transducer relative to said sheath along a pull-back trajectory to obtain a stack of images during pull-back;

a guidewire operably disposed within said distal region of said elongate sheath; and

at least four radiopaque markers disposed about a distal region of said guidewire,

wherein said markers enable determination of the pull-back trajectory in the region of interest.

26. The catheter of claim 25, wherein said radiopaque markers are separated by equally spaced distances along the catheter longitudinal centerline.

27. The catheter of claim 25, wherein said radiopaque markers comprise thin metal rings mounted on the distal region of said guidewire.

28. The catheter of claim 25, further comprising at least one acoustical indexing marker disposed about the distal region of said sheath.

29. The catheter of claim 28, wherein said acoustical indexing marker extends longitudinally parallel to the catheter longitudinal centerline.

30. The catheter of claim 25, wherein the markers are spaced by distances of no greater than 20 millimeters as measured along the catheter longitudinal centerline.

31. The catheter of claim 25, wherein the markers are spaced by distances of no less than 0.8 millimeters as measured along the catheter longitudinal centerline.

32. A catheter for imaging a vessel to obtain three-dimensional reconstruction of a lumen of the vessel in a region of interest, said catheter comprising:

an elongate sheath having proximal and distal regions, said distal region adapted to enter the vessel while said proximal region extends outside of the vessel to permit control of said catheter;

an ultrasound transducer adapted to operate within said elongate sheath, and capable of rotation, and simultaneous longitudinal translation relative to said sheath along a pull-back trajectory to obtain a stack of images during pull-back; and

a drive shaft operably connected to the ultrasound transducer, the drive shaft having at least four radiopaque markers disposed about its distal region,

wherein said markers enable determination of the pull-back trajectory in the region of interest.

33. The catheter of claim 32, wherein said radiopaque markers are separated by equally spaced distances along the catheter longitudinal centerline.

34. The catheter of claim 32, wherein said radiopaque markers comprise thin metal rings mounted on the distal region of said drive shaft.

35. The catheter of claim 32, wherein said radiopaque markers are arranged in a helical pattern along said drive shaft.

36. The catheter of claim 32, further comprising at least one acoustical indexing marker disposed about the distal region of said sheath.

37. The catheter of claim 32, wherein said acoustical indexing marker extends longitudinally parallel to the catheter longitudinal centerline.

38. The catheter of claim 32, wherein said drive shaft is substantially more flexible than said elongate sheath.

39. The catheter of claim 32, wherein said drive shaft further includes an angiographic orientation marker which is radially fixed relative to said ultrasound transducer to permit X-ray visualization of rotational orientation of said ultrasound transducer.

40. The catheter of claim 32, wherein said transducer further includes a radiopaque component.

41. The catheter of claim 32, wherein the markers are spaced by distances of no greater than 20 millimeters as measured along the catheter longitudinal centerline.

42. The catheter of claim 32, wherein the markers are spaced by distances of no less than 0.8 millimeters as measured along the catheter longitudinal centerline.