Devices, Systems, and Methods for Vessel Assessment

Abstract

Devices, systems, and methods for visually depicting a vessel and evaluating a physiological condition of the vessel are disclosed. One embodiment includes obtaining, at a first time, a first image of the vessel, the image being in a first medical modality, and obtaining, at a second time subsequent to the first time, a second image of the vessel, the image being in the first medical modality. The method also includes spatially co-registering the first and second images and outputting a visual representation of the co-registered first and second images on a display. Further, the method includes determining a physiological difference between the vessel at the first time and the vessel at the second time based on the co-registered first and second images, and evaluating the physiological condition of the vessel of the patient based on the determined physiological difference.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of evaluating a vessel of a patient, comprising:
 obtaining, at a first time, a first graphical diagnostic measurement of the vessel of the patient, the first graphical diagnostic measurement being in a first medical modality;   obtaining, at a second time subsequent to the first time, a second graphical diagnostic measurement of the vessel, the graphical diagnostic measurement being in the first medical modality;   spatially co-registering the first and second graphical diagnostic measurements;   outputting a visual representation of the co-registered first and second graphical diagnostic measurements on a display; and   determining a physiological difference between the vessel at the first time and the vessel at the second time based on the co-registered first and second graphical diagnostic measurements to evaluate the physiological condition of the vessel of the patient.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein an intravascular procedure was performed on the vessel between the first time and the second time. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the intravascular procedure includes inserting a stent into the vessel. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein spatially co-registering includes generating a composite diagnostic image by overlaying the second graphical diagnostic measurement on the first graphical diagnostic measurement. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein outputting the visual representation includes outputting the composite diagnostic image on the display. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein determining the physiological difference is based on the composite diagnostic image. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining a physiological difference includes visually comparing a first depiction of the vessel in the first graphical diagnostic measurement and a second depiction of the vessel in the second graphical diagnostic measurement. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the comparing includes comparing a first cross-sectional lumen area of the vessel at a point of interest as depicted in the first graphical diagnostic measurement and a second cross-sectional lumen area of the vessel at the point of interest as depicted in the second graphical diagnostic measurement. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first graphical diagnostic measurement is an extraluminal image. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the first graphical diagnostic measurement is one of an x-ray image, an angiogram image, an ultrasound image, a two-dimensional computed tomography (CT) image, a three-dimensional CT image, a computed tomography angiogram (CTA) image, a positron emission tomography (PET) image, a PET-CT image, a magnetic resonance image (MRI), and a single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) image. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first graphical diagnostic measurement is an endoluminal image. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the first graphical diagnostic measurement is one of an intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) image, a forward looking IVUS (FL-IVUS) image, an intravascular photoacoustic (IVPA) image, a near-infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) image, an optical coherence tomography (OCT) image, an intracardiac echocardiography (ICE) image, a forward-looking ICE (FLICE) image, and an intravascular magnetic resonance image (MRI). 
     
     
         13 . A system of evaluating a vessel of a patient, comprising:
 an instrument configured to obtain graphical diagnostic measurements of the vessel of the patient;   a processing system in communication with the first instrument, the processing unit configured to:
 obtain, at a first time, a first graphical diagnostic measurement of the vessel from the instrument, the first graphical diagnostic measurement being in a first medical modality; 
 obtain, at a second time subsequent to the first time, a second graphical diagnostic measurement of the vessel from the instrument, the graphical diagnostic measurement being in the first medical modality; 
 spatially co-register the first and second graphical diagnostic measurements; 
 output a visual representation of the co-registered first and second graphical diagnostic measurements on a display; and 
 determine a physiological difference between the vessel at the first time and the vessel at the second time based on the co-registered first and second graphical diagnostic measurements to evaluate the physiological condition of the vessel of the patient. 
   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein an intravascular procedure was performed on the vessel between the first time and the second time. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the intravascular procedure includes inserting a stent into the vessel. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the system is further configured to generate a composite diagnostic image by overlaying the second graphical diagnostic measurement on the first graphical diagnostic measurement. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the system is further configured to output the composite diagnostic image on the display. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the system is further configured to determine the physiological difference based on the composite diagnostic image. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the first graphical diagnostic measurement is an extraluminal image. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the first graphical diagnostic measurement is one of an x-ray image, an angiogram image, an ultrasound image, a two-dimensional computed tomography (CT) image, a three-dimensional CT image, a computed tomography angiogram (CTA) image, a positron emission tomography (PET) image, a PET-CT image, a magnetic resonance image (MRI), and a single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) image. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the first graphical diagnostic measurement is an endoluminal image. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the first graphical diagnostic measurement is one of an intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) image, a forward looking IVUS (FL-IVUS) image, an intravascular photoacoustic (IVPA) image, a near-infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) image, an optical coherence tomography (OCT) image, an intracardiac echocardiography (ICE) image, a forward-looking ICE (FLICE) image, and an intravascular magnetic resonance image (MRI).