Systems and methods for evaluating vessels

Abstract

Disclosed are systems and methods for evaluating body vessels. Images of the vessel are captured, analyzing to generate a three-dimensional model of the vessel, and the data associated with the three-dimensional model is analyzed. In cases in which the vessel is a coronary artery, the vessel model can be analyzed to determine the vulnerability of plaques within the artery to rupture. In some embodiments, the images are optical coherence tomography images. In some embodiments, the images are captured with an optical catheter that includes a tracking device. In some embodiments, the analysis includes flow and/or structural analysis.

1 . A method for evaluating a vessel comprising:
 capturing optical coherence tomography (OCT) images of the vessel;   analyzing the OCT images to generate a three-dimensional model of the vessel; and   conducting analysis on data associated with the three-dimensional model.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein capturing OCT images of the vessel comprises capturing OCT images of the vessel with an optical catheter positioned within the vessel. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising capturing fluorescence spectroscopy images of the vessel. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein conducting analysis comprises conducting flow analysis in relation to fluid flow through the vessel. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein conducting analysis comprises conducting structural analysis in relation to walls of the vessel. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the vessel is an artery and conducting analysis comprises conducting analysis on the artery to determine the vulnerability of plaques within the artery to rupture. 
   
   
       7 . A computer-readable medium comprising a system for evaluating a vessel, the computer-readable medium, comprising:
 logic configured to capture optical coherence tomography (OCT) images of the vessel;   logic configured to analyze the OCT images to generate a three-dimensional model of the vessel; and   logic configured to conduct analysis on data associated with the three-dimensional model.   
   
   
       8 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 7 , wherein the logic configured to capture OCT images of the vessel comprises logic configured to capture OCT images of the vessel with an optical catheter positioned within the vessel. 
   
   
       9 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 7 , further comprising logic configured to capture fluorescence spectroscopy images of the vessel. 
   
   
       10 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 7 , wherein the logic configured to conduct analysis comprises logic configured to conduct flow analysis in relation to fluid flow through the vessel. 
   
   
       11 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 7 , wherein the logic configured to conduct analysis comprises logic configured to conduct structural analysis in relation to walls of the vessel. 
   
   
       12 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 7 , wherein the vessel is an artery and the logic configured to conduct analysis comprises logic configured to conduct analysis on the artery to determine the vulnerability of plaques within the artery to rupture. 
   
   
       13 . A method for evaluating a vessel comprising:
 capturing images of the vessel by an optical catheter positioned within the vessel;   simultaneously determining a position and orientation of the catheter with information generated by a tracking device of the catheter;   analyzing the images to generate a three-dimensional model of the vessel; and   conducting analysis on data associated with the three-dimensional model.   
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein capturing images of the vessel comprises capturing optical coherence tomography (OCT) images of the vessel. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein capturing images of the vessel further comprises capturing fluorescence spectroscopy images of the vessel. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein conducting analysis comprises conducting flow analysis in relation to fluid flow through the vessel. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein conducting analysis comprises conducting structural analysis in relation to walls of the vessel. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the vessel is an artery and conducting analysis comprises conducting analysis on the artery to determine the vulnerability of plaques within the artery to rupture. 
   
   
       19 . A computer-readable medium comprising a system for evaluating a vessel, the computer-readable medium comprising:
 logic configured to process images of the vessel captured by an optical catheter positioned within the vessel;   logic configured to simultaneously determine a position and orientation of the catheter with information generated by a tracking device provided within the catheter;   logic configured to analyze the images to generate a three-dimensional model of the vessel; and   logic configured to conduct analysis on data associated with the three-dimensional model.   
   
   
       20 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 19 , wherein logic configured to process images of the vessel comprises logic configured to process optical coherence tomography (OCT) images of the vessel. 
   
   
       21 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 20 , wherein the logic configured to process images of the vessel further comprises logic configured to process fluorescence spectroscopy images of the vessel captured by the catheter. 
   
   
       22 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 19 , wherein the logic configured to conduct analysis comprises logic configured to conduct flow analysis in relation to fluid flow through the vessel. 
   
   
       23 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 19 , wherein the logic configured to conducting analysis comprises logic configured to conduct structural analysis in relation to walls of the vessel. 
   
   
       24 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 19 , wherein the vessel is an artery and the logic configured to conduct analysis comprises logic configured to conduct analysis on the artery to determine the vulnerability of plaques within the artery to rupture. 
   
   
       25 . An optical catheter comprising:
 an internal optical system configured to capture images of a vessel in which the catheter is positioned; and   a tracking device that determines the position and orientation of the catheter within the vessel simultaneous of image capture.   
   
   
       26 . The catheter of  claim 25 , wherein the tracking device is capable of collecting positional and orientation data within 6 degrees of freedom. 
   
   
       27 . The catheter of  claim 25 , wherein the catheter is configured to capture images about an axis of the catheter along 360°. 
   
   
       28 . The catheter of  claim 25 , wherein the catheter is sized and configured to be positioned within a coronary artery and capture images of the arterial walls and plaques formed within the artery. 
   
   
       29 . The catheter of  claim 25 , wherein the catheter is configured to capture optical coherence tomography (OCT) images of the vessel. 
   
   
       30 . The catheter of  claim 29 , wherein the catheter is further configured to capture fluorescence spectroscopy images of the vessel. 
   
   
       31 . A method for evaluating a vessel comprising:
 capturing images of the vessel;   analyzing the images to generate a three-dimensional model of the vessel; and   conducting analysis on data associated with the three-dimensional model, the analysis including flow analysis in relation to fluid flow through the vessel and structural analysis in relation to walls of the vessel.   
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein capturing images of the vessel comprises capturing optical coherence tomography (OCT) images of the vessel with the optical catheter. 
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein capturing images of the vessel further comprises capturing fluorescence spectroscopy images of the vessel. 
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the vessel is an artery and conducting analysis comprises conducting the flow analysis and the structural analysis to determine the vulnerability of plaques within the artery to rupture. 
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein conducting analysis further comprises developing a flow-structure index that is indicative of likelihood of plaque rupture. 
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein conducting the flow analysis and the structural analysis is performed in an iterative process in which the structural analysis influences the flow analysis and vice versa. 
   
   
       37 . A computer-readable medium comprising a system for evaluating a vessel comprising:
 logic configured to capture images of the vessel;   logic configured to analyze the images to generate a three-dimensional model of the vessel; and   logic configured to conduct analysis on data associated with the three-dimensional model, the analysis including flow analysis in relation to fluid flow through the vessel and structural analysis in relation to walls of the vessel.   
   
   
       38 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 37 , wherein the logic configured to capture images of the vessel comprises logic configured to capture optical coherence tomography (OCT) images of the vessel with the optical catheter. 
   
   
       39 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 38 , wherein the logic configured to capture images of the vessel further comprises logic configured to capture fluorescence spectroscopy images of the vessel. 
   
   
       40 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 37 , wherein the vessel is an artery and the logic configured to conduct analysis comprises logic configured to conduct the flow analysis and the structural analysis to determine the vulnerability of plaques within the artery to rupture. 
   
   
       41 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 37 , wherein the logic configured to conduct analysis further comprises logic configured to develop a flow-structure index that is indicative of likelihood of plaque rupture. 
   
   
       42 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 37 , wherein the logic configured to conduct the flow analysis and the structural analysis performs the analysis in an iterative process in which the structural analysis influences the flow analysis and vice versa.