System and method for electromechanical wave imaging of body structures

Abstract

A system and method for detecting electromechanical wave propagation within a body structure of a patient in a series of image frames representing movement the body structure. Image data is acquired comprising a series of image frames corresponding to the movement of a body structure. A correlation calculation is performed on the image frames to generate a displacement map representing the relative displacement between the first and second image frames. A video is generated comprising a series of displacement maps. The parameters of movement of the body structure are detected by analysis of the displacement maps. The image acquisition may detect the movement of the body structure without inducing such movement.

1 - 26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . A method of surgically treating a cardiac conduction abnormality, comprising:
 positioning an ultrasound probe adjacent the heart;   scanning a myocardium using the ultrasound probe along a path including a path along which the electromechanical wave propagates in the heart to acquire image data comprising a series of image frames directly representing the propagation of the electromechanical wave in the heart, the series dividing a duration of the electromechanical wave;   tracking the electromechanical wave by locating the position of the electromechanical wave front on consecutive displacements;   calculating one or more parameters of the electromechanical wave based on the tracking;   performing a surgical procedure on tissue of the heart which alters the electrical conduction properties of the heart, responsively to said calculating;   wherein the electromechanical wave is:
 a transient deformation arising directly from electrical wave propagation in the myocardium; and 
 propagates along a path of, during the predefined interval of, and in parallel itinerary with, the electrical wave propagation. 
   
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the conduction abnormality is associated with a ventricular dysrhythmia. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the conduction abnormality is associated with a cardiac tissue abnormality. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the surgical procedure includes emplacing a pacemaker. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein said calculating includes transferring the image data to a computer processing device for image processing which further includes performing a correlation calculation on the image frames; generating one or more correlation matrices representing relative displacements between successive image frames; generating video data representing the progression of the electromechanical wave over said path responsively to the relative displacements represented in said correlation matrices; and tracking the electromechanical wave by locating the position of the electromechanical wave front on consecutive displacements. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 27 , further comprising determining one or more characteristics of the myocardium based on the determined one or more parameters of the electromechanical wave. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the one or more parameters includes velocity, amplitude, attenuation, and frequency of the electromechanical wave propagation. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the one or more characteristics include stiffness, elasticity, conduction properties, strains, strain rates, and contractile movement. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 30 , further comprising diagnosing a condition of the myocardium based on the determined one or more characteristics. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the computer processing device includes:
 an input device configured to allow an operator to input information regarding the myocardium, the ultrasound system, and processing parameters; and an output device configured to output at least one of a result of the image processing and a result of the calculating parameters of the electromechanical wave.   
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the input information includes one or more predetermined thresholds, and wherein the output includes at least one of a displacement map, the video data representing the propagation of the electromechanical wave, the determined parameters of the electromechanical wave, the tracking of the front of the electromechanical wave; a displacement map superimposed on ultrasound grayscale data, and display data representing the video data indicating the body structure and the progression of the electromechanical wave over said path. 
     
     
         38 . A method of using an ultrasound system for detecting and imaging propagation of an electromechanical wave in a body structure, comprising:
 positioning an ultrasound probe adjacent the body structure;   scanning the body structure using the ultrasound probe along a path including a path along which the electromechanical wave propagates in the body structure to acquire image data comprising a series of image frames directly representing the propagation of the electromechanical wave in the body structure, the series dividing a duration of the electromechanical wave;   transferring the image data to a computer processing device for image processing including:   performing a correlation calculation on the image frames;   generating one or more correlation matrices representing relative displacements between successive image frames;   generating a video depicting the progression of the electromechanical wave over said path using a sequence of the relative displacements;   tracking the electromechanical wave by locating the position of the electromechanical wave front on consecutive displacements; and   determining one or more parameters of the electromechanical wave based on the tracking,   wherein the electromechanical wave is:   a transient deformation arising directly from electrical wave propagation in the body structure; and   propagates along a path of, during the predefined interval of, and in parallel itinerary with, the electrical wave propagation.   
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 38 , further comprising determining one or more characteristics of the body structure based on the determined one or more parameters of the electromechanical wave. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the one or more parameters includes velocity, amplitude, attenuation, and frequency of the electromechanical wave propagation. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein the one or more characteristics include stiffness, elasticity, conduction properties, strains, strain rates, and contractile movement. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 41 , further comprising diagnosing a condition of the body structure based on the determined one or more characteristics. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein the body structure includes a portion of a myocardium, artery, or aorta. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the computer processing device includes:
 an input device configured to allow an operator to input information regarding the body structure, the ultrasound system, and processing parameters; and   an output device configured to output at least one of a result of the image processing and a result of the detecting and imaging propagation of an electromechanical wave.   
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the input information includes one or more predetermined thresholds, and wherein the output includes at least one of a displacement map, the video depicting the propagation of the electromechanical wave, the determined parameters of the electromechanical wave, the tracking of the front of the electromechanical wave; a displacement map superimposed on ultrasound grayscale data, and a video graphically representing the body structure and the progression of the electromechanical wave over said path.