Co-use of endoluminal data and extraluminal imaging

• US 9,629,571 B2
• Filed: 09/08/2011
• Issued: 04/25/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sync-Rx, Ltd. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Sync-Rx, Ltd. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Tolkowsky, David, Cohen, Ran, Klaiman, Eldad, Barzelay, Zohar
• Primary Examiner(s): Lamprecht, Joel
• Application Number:
  US13/228,229
• Publication Number:
  US 20120004537A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,056 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3966 Radiopaque markers visible in an X-ray image
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2576/00 Medical imaging apparatus involving image processing or analysis A61B1/00009, A61B6/52 and A61B8/52 take precedence; image processing per se G06T; details of algorithms for analysing medical images G06T7/0012
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0066 Optical coherence imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0073 by tomography, i.e. reconstruction of 3D images from 2D projections A61B5/0066 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0075 by spectroscopy, i.e. measuring spectra, e.g. Raman spectroscopy, infrared absorption spectroscopy A61B5/0071 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0084 for introduction into the body, e.g. by catheters A61B5/1459 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0086 using infrared radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/06 Devices, other than using radiation, for detecting or locating foreign bodies for removing same A61B17/50 ; determining position of probes within or on the body of the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/066 Superposing sensor position on an image of the patient, e.g. obtained by ultrasound or x-ray imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/12 in body cavities or body tracts, e.g. by using catheters catheters per se A61M25/00

Abstract

Apparatus and methods are described for use with an endoluminal data-acquisition device configured to be moved through a lumen, the device having a radiopaque marker coupled thereto. While the device is being moved through the lumen (a) endoluminal data points of the lumen are acquired using the device, (b) contrast agent is continuously injected into the lumen, and (c) angiographic images of the device are acquired. It is determined that endoluminal data points correspond to respective locations within the lumen, by determining locations of the radiopaque marker within the angiographic images of the lumen, by performing image processing on the angiographic images, the locations of the radiopaque marker within the angiographic images of the lumen corresponding to respective endoluminal data points. Other applications are also described.

Claims

1. A method for use with an endoluminal data-acquisition device configured to be moved through a lumen of a subject'"'"'s body, the endoluminal data-acquisition device having a radiopaque marker coupled thereto, comprising:

while the endoluminal data-acquisition device is being moved through the lumen;

acquiring a plurality of endoluminal data points of the lumen using the endoluminal data-acquisition device;

continuously injecting contrast agent into the lumen; and

acquiring a plurality of angiographic images of the lumen, during the continuous injection of the contrast agent into the lumen;

determining that endoluminal data points correspond to respective locations within the lumen, by determining locations of the radiopaque marker within the angiographic images of the lumen, by performing image processing on the angiographic images, the locations of the radiopaque marker within the angiographic images of the lumen corresponding to respective endoluminal data points; and

generating an output in response thereto.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein continuously injecting the contrast agent into the lumen comprises continuously injecting the contrast agent into the lumen for a period of at least two seconds.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein acquiring the plurality of endoluminal data points of the lumen using the endoluminal data-acquisition device comprises acquiring the plurality of endoluminal data points of the lumen using the endoluminal data-acquisition device while the data-acquisition device is being pulled back through the lumen.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the endoluminal data-acquisition device includes an endoluminal imaging probe, wherein acquiring the plurality of endoluminal data points of the lumen comprises acquiring a plurality of endoluminal images at a first frame rate, wherein acquiring the plurality of angiographic images comprises acquiring the plurality of angiographic images at a second frame rate that is different from the first frame rate, and wherein determining that endoluminal data points correspond to respective locations within the lumen further comprises indexing the endoluminal images with respect to the angiographic images.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein continuously injecting the contrast agent into the lumen comprises continuously injecting the contrast agent over at least 50% of a duration of a period over which the endoluminal data-acquisition device acquires the endoluminal data points.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein continuously injecting the contrast agent into the lumen comprises continuously injecting the contrast agent over at least 80% of a duration of a period over which the endoluminal data-acquisition device acquires the endoluminal data points.

7. Apparatus for use with:

an endoluminal data-acquisition device configured to acquire a plurality of endoluminal data points of a lumen of a body of a subject at respective locations inside the lumen, while the endoluminal data-acquisition device is being moved through the lumen, the endoluminal data-acquisition device having a radiopaque marker coupled thereto, and

an angiographic imaging device configured to acquire a plurality of angiographic images of the lumen, during the movement of the endoluminal data-acquisition device through the lumen, the angiographic images being acquired while a contrast agent is continuously injected into the lumen,

the apparatus comprising;

a display configured to display images of the lumen; and

at least one processor configured to;

determine that endoluminal data points correspond to respective locations within the lumen, by determining locations of the radiopaque marker within the angiographic images of the lumen that were acquired while the contrast agent was continuously injected into the lumen, by performing image processing on the angiographic images, the locations of the radiopaque marker within the angiographic images of the lumen corresponding to respective endoluminal data points, and

drive the display to display an output, in response to determining that the endoluminal data points correspond to respective locations within the lumen.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the endoluminal data-acquisition device includes an endoluminal imaging probe configured to acquire a plurality of endoluminal images at a first frame rate, wherein the angiographic imaging device includes an angiographic imaging device that is configured to acquire the plurality of angiographic images at a second frame rate that is different from the first frame rate, and wherein the processor is configured to determine that endoluminal data points correspond to respective locations within the lumen by indexing the endoluminal images with respect to the angiographic images.