Electrode-to-lead association using post-implant imaging

• US 8,180,129 B2
• Filed: 01/23/2009
• Issued: 05/15/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Goetz, Steven M., Ng, Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): Chang, Joseph
• Assistant Examiner(s): SHIN, JEFFREY M
• Application Number:
  US12/359,264
• Publication Number:
  US 20090196472A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,208 Days
• Field of Search: 382/128, 382141-152, 382/131
• US Class Current: 382/128
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0551 Spinal or peripheral nerve electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36185 Selection of the electrode configuration
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37247 User interfaces, e.g. input or presentation means
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37264 Changing the program; Upgrading firmware
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/10116 X-ray image
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30052 Implant; Prosthesis
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30196 Human being; Person
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/0012 Biomedical image inspection
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/73 using feature-based methods

Abstract

In general, the disclosure is related to electrode-to-lead association using post-implant imaging. An image analysis unit may calculate distances between representations of electrodes in an electronic image and identify groups based on the calculated distances. Each identified group may include a plurality of electrode representations. The distance between a first electrode representation and a second electrode representation may be substantially a same distance between the second electrode representation and a third electrode representation. A characterization unit may determine one or more lead types based on the identified groups.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

an image analysis unit that calculates distances between representations of electrodes in an electronic image and that identifies groups based on the calculated distances, wherein each identified group includes a plurality of electrode representations, and wherein a distance between a first electrode representation and a second electrode representation in the electronic image is substantially a same distance as a distance between the second electrode representation and a third electrode representation in the electronic image; and

a characterization unit that determines one or more lead types based on the identified groups.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the identified groups each include at least three electrode representations contained within the electronic image.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the first electrode representation, the second electrode representation, and the third electrode representation are included within one of the identified groups.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein each identified group includes one of the at least three electrode representations that is positioned substantially equidistant from two other electrode representations in the at least three electrode representations.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the image analysis unit identifies one or more leads in the electronic image based on the identified groups, and wherein the characterization unit determines a lead type of the one or more lead types for each one of the identified one or more leads.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the image analysis unit compares the plurality of electrode representations in each of the identified groups to determine overlapping electrode representations.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the image analysis unit determines which ones of the identified groups include overlapping electrode representations, and wherein the image analysis unit determines that the electrode representations included within the ones of the identified groups belong to a same lead.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the image analysis unit determines the ones of the identified groups that include at least two overlapping electrode representations.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein the image analysis unit calculates slopes between each electrode representation and at least one other electrode representation within ones of the identified groups that include overlapping electrode representations.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the image analysis unit calculates slopes between each electrode representation and at least one other electrode representation within each identified group.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the image analysis unit compares the slopes to a curve threshold, and wherein the image analysis unit identifies one or more leads on the electronic image based on the comparison.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the distance between the first electrode and the second electrode comprises a distance between a center of the first electrode and a center of the second electrode, and wherein the distance between the second electrode and the third electrode comprises a distance between the center of the second electrode and a center of the third electrode.

13. A method comprising:

calculating distances between representations of electrodes in an electronic image;

identifying groups based on the calculated distances, wherein each identified group includes a plurality of electrode representations, wherein a distance between a first electrode representation and a second electrode representation of the plurality of electrode representations is substantially a same distance as a distance between the second electrode representation and a third electrode representation of the plurality of electrode representations in the electronic image; and

determining one or more lead types based on the identified groups.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the identified groups each include at least three electrode representations contained within the electronic image.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the first electrode representation, the second electrode representation, and the third electrode representation are included within one of the identified groups.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein each identified group includes one of the at least three electrode representations that is positioned substantially equidistant from two other electrode representations in the at least three electrode representations.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

identifying one or more leads in the electronic image based on the identified groups; and

determining a lead type of the one or more lead types for each one of the identified one or more leads.

18. The method of claim 13, further comprising comparing the plurality of electrode representations in each of the identified groups to determine overlapping electrode representations.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

determining which ones of the identified groups include overlapping electrode representations; and

determining that the electrode representations included within the ones of the identified groups belong to a same lead.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein determining which ones of the identified groups include overlapping electrode representations comprises determining the ones of the identified groups that include at least two overlapping electrode representations.

21. The method of claim 18, further comprising calculating slopes between each electrode representation and at least one other electrode representation within ones of the identified groups that include overlapping electrode representations.

22. The method of claim 13, further comprising calculating slopes between each electrode representation and at least one other electrode representation within each identified group.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

comparing the slopes to a curve threshold; and

identifying one or more leads on the electronic image based on the comparison.

24. The method of claim 13, wherein the distance between the first electrode and the second electrode comprises a distance between a center of the first electrode and a center of the second electrode.

25. A system comprising:

means for calculating distances between representations of electrodes in an electronic image;

means for identifying groups based on the calculated distances, wherein each identified group includes a plurality of electrode representations, wherein a distance between a first electrode representation and a second electrode representation of the plurality of electrode representations is substantially a same distance as a distance between the second electrode representation and a third electrode representation of the plurality of electrode representations in the electronic image; and

means for determining one or more lead types based on the identified groups.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the identified groups each include at least three electrode representations contained within the electronic image.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the first electrode representation, the second electrode representation, and the third electrode representation are included within one of the identified groups.

28. The system of claim 26, wherein each identified group includes one of the at least three electrode representations that is substantially positioned equidistant from two other electrode representations in the at least three electrode representations.

29. The system of claim 25, further comprising:

means for identifying one or more leads in the electronic image based on the identified groups; and

means for determining a lead type of the one or more lead types for each one of the identified one or more leads.

30. The system of claim 25, further comprising means for comparing the plurality of electrode representations in each of the identified groups to determine overlapping electrode representations.

31. The system of claim 30, further comprising:

means for determining which ones of the identified groups include overlapping electrode representations; and

means for determining that the electrode representations included within the ones of the identified groups belong to a same lead.

32. The system of claim 31, wherein the means for determining which ones of the identified groups include overlapping electrode representations comprises means for determining the ones of the identified groups that include at least two overlapping electrode representations.

33. The system of claim 30, further comprising means for calculating slopes between each electrode representation and at least one other electrode representation within ones of the identified groups that include overlapping electrode representations.

34. The system of claim 25, further comprising means for calculating slopes between each electrode representation and at least one other electrode representation within each identified group.

35. The system of claim 34, further comprising:

means for comparing the slopes to a curve threshold; and

means for identifying one or more leads on the electronic image based on the comparison.

36. The system of claim 25, wherein the distance between the first electrode and the second electrode comprises a distance between a center of the first electrode and a center of the second electrode.

37. A computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions that cause one or more processors to:

calculate distances between representations of electrodes in an electronic image;

identify groups based on the calculated distances, wherein each identified group includes a plurality of electrode representations, wherein a distance between a first electrode representation and a second electrode representation of the plurality of electrode representations is substantially a same distance as a distance between the second electrode representation and a third electrode representation of the plurality of electrode representations in the electronic image; and

determine one or more lead types based on the identified groups.

38. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 37, wherein the identified groups each include at least three electrode representations contained within the electronic image.

39. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 38, wherein the first electrode representation, the second electrode representation, and the third electrode representation are included within one of the identified groups.

40. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 38, wherein each identified group includes one of the at least three electrode representations that is positioned substantially equidistant from two other electrode representations in the at least three electrode representations.

41. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 37, further comprising instructions that cause the one or more processors to:

identify one or more leads in the electronic image based on the identified groups; and

determine a lead type of the one or more lead types for each one of the identified one or more leads.

42. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 37, further comprising instructions that cause the one or more processors to compare the plurality of electrode representations in each of the identified groups to determine overlapping electrode representations.

43. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 42, further comprising instructions that cause the one or more processors to:

determine which ones of the identified groups include overlapping electrode representations; and

determine that the electrode representations included within the ones of the identified groups belong to a same lead.

44. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 43, wherein instructions that cause the one or more processors to determine which ones of the identified groups include overlapping electrode representations comprises instructions that cause the one or more processors to determine the ones of the identified groups that include at least two overlapping electrode representations.

45. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 42, further comprising instructions that cause the one or more processors to calculate slopes between each electrode representation and at least one other electrode representation within ones of the identified groups that include overlapping electrode representations.

46. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 37, further comprising instructions that cause the one or more processors to calculate slopes between each electrode representation and at least one other electrode representation within each identified group.

47. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 46, further comprising instructions that cause the one or more processors to:

compare the slopes to a curve threshold; and

identify one or more leads on the electronic image based on the comparison.

48. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 37, wherein the distance between the first electrode and the second electrode comprises a distance between a center of the first electrode and a center of the second electrode.