Automatic device-footprint-free roadmapping for endovascular interventions

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016228084-A1
Application number	US-201415023298-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 9, 2014
Priority date	Sep 20, 2013
Publication date	Aug 11, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

The intention relates to a system ( 1 ) and a corresponding method for automatic roadmapping for endovascular interventions. In order to enable an enhanced roadmapping visualization without unnecessary device-footprints, the system ( 1 ) comprises: an x-ray imaging device ( 3 ) for acquiring x-ray images and a calculation unit ( 5 ). The x-ray imaging device ( 3 ) is adapted for acquiring a first x-ray image ( 21 ) with an interventional device ( 17 ) present in the vessels ( 19 ) while no contrast agent is present in the vessels ( 19 ). Furthermore, the x-ray imaging device ( 3 ) is adapted for acquiring a second x-ray image ( 23 ) with the interventional device ( 17 ) present in the vessels ( 19 ) while contrast agent is present in the vessels ( 19 ). The calculation unit is adapted for creating a roadmap image ( 27 ) by subtracting the first x-ray image ( 21 ) from the second x-ray image ( 23 ). Moreover, the calculation unit ( 5 ) is adapted for automatically minimizing the visibility of the interventional device ( 17 ) in the roadmap image ( 27 ). A display unit ( 7 ) is adapted to display the roadmap image ( 27 ) or an overlay of a current fluoroscopy image ( 31 ) with the roadmap image ( 27 ).

First claim

1 . An imaging system for automatic roadmapping for endovascular interventions, the system comprising
an x-ray imaging device for acquiring x-ray images; a calculation unit; wherein the x-ray imaging device is adapted for acquiring a first x-ray image with an interventional device present in the vessels while no contrast agent is injected into the vessels; wherein the x-ray imaging device is adapted for acquiring a second x-ray image with the interventional device present in the vessels while contrast agent is injected into the vessels; wherein the calculation unit is adapted for creating a roadmap image by subtracting the first x-ray image from the second x-ray image; wherein the calculation unit is adapted for automatically minimizing the visibility of the interventional device in the roadmap image.

2 . The system according to claim 1 ,
wherein the x-ray imaging device is adapted for acquiring at least one current fluoroscopy image with the interventional device present in the vessels; wherein the calculation unit is adapted for generating a first composite image by combining the roadmap image with the at least one current fluoroscopy image.

3 . The system according to claim 2 ,
wherein the x-ray imaging device is adapted for acquiring a reference fluoroscopy image with the interventional device present in the vessels; wherein the calculation unit is adapted for automatically minimizing the visibility of the interventional device in the reference fluoroscopy image; wherein the calculation unit is adapted for creating an enhanced current fluoroscopy image by subtracting the reference fluoroscopy image from the current fluoroscopy image; wherein the calculation unit is adapted for generating a second composite image by combining the roadmap image with the enhanced current fluoroscopy image.

4 . The system according to 2 , further comprising
a display unit; wherein the display unit is adapted for displaying the enhanced current fluoroscopy image, the first composite image and/or the second composite image.

5 . The system according to claim 1 ,
wherein automatically minimizing the visibility of the interventional device comprises an automatic detection of the interventional device; wherein automatically minimizing the visibility of the interventional device further comprises in-painting of the detected interventional device.

6 . The system according to claim 5 ,
wherein the automatic detection of the interventional device is based on the contrast value of the interventional device, on the geometry of the interventional device and/or on the kinetics of the interventional device.

7 . The system according to claim 1 ,
wherein automatically minimizing the visibility of the interventional device comprises filtering out details smaller than the vessels in the first x-ray image, in the second x-ray image and/or in the reference fluoroscopy image by the calculation unit.

8 . The system according to claim 7 ,
wherein automatically minimizing the visibility of the interventional device comprises filtering out details smaller than the vessels within the vessels in the first x-ray image, in the second x-ray image and/or in the reference fluoroscopy image by the calculation unit.

9 . The system according to claim 6 ,
wherein the visibility of the interventional device is minimized by processing the first x-ray image and the second x-ray image before subtracting these images.

10 . The system according to claim 1 ,
wherein the visibility of the interventional device is minimized by processing the roadmap image after subtracting the first x-ray image from the second x-ray image.

11 . A method for automatic roadmapping for endovascular interventions, the method comprising the following steps:
acquiring a first x-ray image with an interventional device present in the vessels while no contrast agent is injected into the vessels; acquiring a second x-ray image with the interventional device present in the vessels while contrast agent is injected into the vessels; creating a roadmap image by subtracting the first x-ray image from the second x-ray image; automatically minimizing the visibility of the interventional device in the roadmap image.

12 . The method according to claim 11 , further comprising
acquiring at least one current fluoroscopy image with the interventional device present in the vessels; generating a first composite image by combining the roadmap image with the at least one current fluoroscopy image.

13 . The method according to claim 12 , further comprising
acquiring a reference fluoroscopy image with the interventional device present in the vessels; automatically minimizing the visibility of the interventional device in the reference fluoroscopy image; creating an enhanced current fluoroscopy image by subtracting the reference fluoroscopy image from the current fluoroscopy image; generating a second composite image by combining the roadmap image with the enhanced current fluoroscopy image.

14 . A computer program element, which, when being executed by a processing unit, is adapted to carry out the method of claim 11 .

15 . A computer readable medium having stored a program element, which, when being executed by a processing unit, is adapted to carry out the method of claim 11 .

Assignees

• Koninklijke Philips Nv

Inventors

• Nempont Olivier Pierre
• Cathier Pascal Yves Francois
• Florent Raoul
• Pizaine Guillaume Julien Joseph

Classifications

• A61B6/0407

  Supports, e.g. tables or beds, for the body or parts of the body · CPC title

• A61B6/12

  Arrangements for detecting or locating foreign bodies · CPC title

• A61B6/463

  characterised by displaying multiple images or images and diagnostic data on one display · CPC title

• A61B6/481

  involving the use of contrast agents · CPC title

• A61B6/504 Primary

  for diagnosis of blood vessels, e.g. by angiography · CPC title