Method for predictive modeling for planning medical interventions and simulating physiological conditions

• US 6,236,878 B1
• Filed: 05/22/1998
• Issued: 05/22/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Heartflow Inc.
• Original Assignee: Charles A Taylor, Christopher K. Zarins, Thomas J.R. Hughes
• Inventors: Taylor, Charles A., Zarins, Christopher K., Hughes, Thomas J. R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lateef, Marvin M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lin, Jeoyuh
• Application Number:
  US09/083,857
• Time in Patent Office: 1,096 Days
• Field of Search: 600/407, 600/411, 600/416, 600/408, 600/300, 600/427, 600/437, 600/439, 128/920, 606/130
• US Class Current: 600/416
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/50 for simulation or modelling of medical disorders
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/92 Computer assisted medical diagnostics

Abstract

A method for predictive modeling of human anatomy and physiologic function for planning medical interventions on at least one portion of a body with the goals of improving the outcome of the medical intervention and reducing the risks associated with medical intervention. The method comprising the steps of generation of multi-dimensional continuous geometric models of human anatomy, the generation of models of physiologic functions, the integration of the multi-dimensional continuous geometric human anatomy models with the physiologic functional models, and the use of the integrated models to predict the outcome of medical interventions. Also a method for the integration of multi-dimensional continuous geometric models of human anatomy and models of physiologic function to evaluate and predict changes in physiologic functions in various functional states, stresses and environments and a method for generating data for disease research.

Claims

1. A method for predictive modeling of human anatomy and physiologic function for planning medical intervention on a portion of a body with the goals of improving the accuracy of the medical intervention and reducing the associated risks, comprising the steps of:

generating a multi-dimensional continuous geometric model of human anatomy having at least one dimension;

generating a model of physiologic function;

integrating the multi-dimensional continuous geometric human anatomy model with the physiologic function model; and

predicting the outcome of medical intervention.

2. The method for predictive modeling of claim 1, wherein the generating means for a multi-dimensional continuous geometric model of human anatomy uses a surface extraction algorithm to segment anatomical features.

3. The method for predictive modeling of claim 2, wherein the generating means for a multi-dimensional continuous geometric model of human anatomy uses mathematical methods to describe human anatomy.

4. The method for predictive modeling of claim 1, wherein the multi-dimensional continuous geometric model of human anatomy generating means is computer software.

5. The method for predictive modeling of claim 1, wherein the generating means for a physiologic functional model uses a mathematical algorithm to create said physiologic functional model.

6. The method for predictive modeling of claim 4, wherein a physiologic empirical clinical data is used in the mathematical algorithm used to create said physiologic function model.

7. The method for predictive modeling of claim 5, wherein the generating means for a physiologic functional model uses discrete numerical methods to create (a) said physiologic functional model.

8. The method for predictive modeling of claim 1, wherein the physiologic functional model means is a computer software.

9. The method for predictive modeling of claim 1, wherein the integrating means uses computational mechanics as a solution method algorithm for the integration of the multi-dimensional continuous geometric human anatomy model with the physiologic functional model.

10. The method for predictive modeling of claim 1, wherein the integrating means for the integration of the multi-dimensional continuous geometric human anatomy model with the physiologic function model uses a scientific visualization means as an information extraction method.

11. The method of predictive modeling of claim 10, wherein the scientific visualization means is a computer graphics means.

12. A method for predictive modeling of human anatomy and physiologic function for planning medical intervention on a portion of a body with the goals of improving the accuracy of the medical intervention and reducing the associated risks, comprising the steps of:

generating a multidimensional continuous geometric model of human anatomy having at least one dimension;

generating a model of physiologic function;

integrating the multi dimensional continuous geometric human anatomy model with the physiologic function model; and

evaluating and predicting the changes in physiological functions in various states, stress and environments in the vascular system.

13. The method for predictive modeling of claim 12, wherein the generating means for a multi-dimensional continuous geometric model of human anatomy uses a surface extraction algorithm to segment anatomical features.

14. The method for predictive modeling of claim 13, wherein the generating means for a multi-dimensional continuous geometric model of human anatomy uses mathematical methods to describe human anatomy.

15. The method for predictive modeling of claim 12, wherein the multi-dimensional continuous geometric model of human anatomy generating means is computer software.

16. The method for predictive modeling of claim 12, wherein the generating means for a physiologic functional model uses a mathematical algorithm to create said physiologic functional model.

17. The method for predictive modeling of claim 16, wherein physiologic empirical clinical data is used in the mathematical algorithm used to create said physiologic function model.

18. The method for predictive modeling of claim 16, wherein the generating means for a physiologic functional model uses discrete numerical methods to create a physiologic functional model.

19. The method for predictive modeling of claim 12, wherein the physiologic functional model means is computer software.

20. The method for predictive modeling of claim 12, wherein the integrating means uses computational mechanics as a solution method algorithm for the integration of the multi-dimensional continuous geometric human anatomy model with the physiologic functional model.

21. The method for predictive modeling of claim 12, wherein the integrating means for the integration of the multi-dimensional continuous geometric human anatomy model with the physiologic function model uses a scientific visualization means as an information extraction method.

22. The method of predictive modeling of claim 21, wherein the scientific visualization means is computer graphics means.

23. A method for predictive modeling of human anatomy and physiologic function for planning medical intervention on a portion of a body with the goals of improving the accuracy of the medical intervention and reducing the associated risks, comprising the steps of:

generating a multi-dimensional continuous geometric model of human anatomy having at least one dimension;

generating a model of physiologic function;

integrating the multi-dimensional continuous geometric human anatomy model with the physiologic function model; and

generating data for disease research.

24. The method for predictive modeling of claim 23, wherein the generating means for a multi-dimensional continuous geometric model of human anatomy uses a surface extraction algorithm to segment anatomical features.

25. The method for predictive modeling of claim 24, wherein the generating means for a multi-dimensional continuous geometric model of human anatomy uses mathematical methods to describe human anatomy.

26. The method for predictive modeling of claim 23, wherein the multi-dimensional continuous geometric model of human anatomy generating means is computer software.

27. The method for predictive modeling of claim 23, wherein the generating means for a physiologic functional model uses a mathematical algorithm to create said physiologic functional model.

28. The method for predictive modeling of claim 27, wherein physiologic empirical clinical data is used in the mathematical algorithm used to create said physiologic function model.

29. The method for predictive modeling of claim 27, wherein the generating means for a physiologic fictional model uses discrete numerical methods to create (a) said physiologic functional model.

30. The method for predictive modeling of claim 23, wherein the physiologic functional model means is computer software.

31. The method for predictive modeling of claim 23, wherein the integrating means uses computational mechanics as a solution method algorithm for the integration of the multi-dimensional continuous geometric human anatomy model with the physiologic functional model.

32. The method for predictive modeling of claim 23, wherein the integrating means for the integration of the multi-dimensional continuous geometric human anatomy model with the physiologic function model uses a scientific visualization means as an information extraction method.

33. The method of predictive modeling of claim 32, wherein the scientific visualization means is computer graphics means.

34. A method for predictive modeling of human anatomy and physiologic function for planing medical intervention on a portion of a body with the goals of improving the accuracy of the medical intervention and reducing the associated risks, comprising the steps of

generating a multi-dimensional continuous geometric model of human anatomy having at least one dimension;

generating a model of physiologic function;

wherein the generating means for said physiologic functional model uses a mathematical algorithm to create said physiologic functional model;

wherein physiologic empirical clinical data is used in said mathematical algorithm used to create said physiologic function model;

integrating the multi-dimensional continuous geometric human anatomy model with the physiologic function model; and

evaluating and predicting the changes in physiological functions in various states, stress and environments.