Systems and methods for embolism prediction using embolus source and destination probabilities

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed for determining a patient risk assessment or treatment plan based on emboli dislodgement and destination. One method includes receiving a patient-specific anatomic model generated from patient-specific imaging of at least a portion of a patient's vasculature; determining or receiving a location of interest in the patient-specific anatomic model of the patient's vasculature; using a computing processor for calculating blood flow through the patient-specific anatomic model to determine blood flow characteristics through at least the portion of the patient's vasculature of the patient-specific anatomic model downstream from the location of interest; and using a computing processor for particle tracking through the simulated blood flow to determine a destination probability of an embolus originating from the location of interest in the patient-specific anatomic model, based on the determined blood flow characteristics.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computer-implemented method of determining a patient risk assessment or treatment plan based on emboli dislodgement and destination, the method comprising:
 receiving a patient-specific anatomic model generated from patient-specific imaging of at least a portion of a patient's vasculature;   determining or receiving a location of interest in the patient-specific anatomic model of the patient's vasculature;   using a computing processor for calculating blood flow through the patient-specific anatomic model to determine blood flow characteristics through at least the portion of the patient's vasculature of the patient-specific anatomic model downstream from the location of interest; and   using a computing processor for particle tracking through the simulated blood flow to determine a destination probability of an embolus originating from the location of interest in the patient-specific anatomic model, based on the determined blood flow characteristics.   
     
     
         2 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining, in the patient's vasculature, a location of a plaque, a location meeting a predetermined criteria of pathology, or a location of possible vascular shedding; and   determining or receiving the location of interest in the patient-specific anatomic model based on the determined location of plaque, determined location meeting the predetermined criteria of pathology, or the location of possible vascular shedding.   
     
     
         3 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining a target location in the patient's vasculature, wherein the destination probability is a probability that the embolus traveling through the patient's circulatory system reaches the target location, based on the determined blood flow characteristics.   
     
     
         4 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining a vulnerable location of embolism based on the determined destination probability.   
     
     
         5 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining an association between a target location in the patient-specific anatomic model, the destination probability, and the location of interest.   
     
     
         6 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 determining, for a second location of interest, a second destination probability of an embolus associated with the second location of interest;   determining an association between the target location in the patient-specific anatomic model, the destination probability, and the second location of interest;   comparing the association between the target location in the patient-specific anatomic model, the destination probability, and the location of interest, and the association between the target location in the patient-specific anatomic model, the destination probability, and the second location of interest; and   determining generating a display or a treatment recommendation based on the comparison.   
     
     
         7 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining patient risk of a disease, based on the destination probability of the embolus, wherein the patient risk of the disease includes patient risk of a disease associated with a location in the patient's vasculature.   
     
     
         8 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 7 , wherein the risk of disease includes a risk of embolism, cognitive impairment, stroke, transient ischemic attack, pulmonary embolism, renal embolism, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         9 . A system for determining a patient risk assessment or treatment plan based on emboli dislodgement and destination, the system comprising:
 a data storage device storing instructions for determining a patient risk assessment or treatment plan based on emboli dislodgement and destination; and   a processor configured to execute the instructions to perform a method including:
 receiving a patient-specific anatomic model generated from patient-specific imaging of at least a portion of a patient's vasculature; 
 determining or receiving a location of interest in the patient-specific anatomic model of the patient's vasculature; 
 using a computing processor for calculating blood flow through the patient-specific anatomic model to determine blood flow characteristics through at least the portion of the patient's vasculature of the patient-specific anatomic model downstream from the location of interest; and 
 using a computing processor for particle tracking through the simulated blood flow to determine a destination probability of an embolus originating from the location of interest in the patient-specific anatomic model, based on the determined blood flow characteristics. 
   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the system is further configured for:
 determining, in the patient's vasculature, a location of a plaque, a location meeting a predetermined criteria of pathology, or a location of possible vascular shedding; and   determining or receiving the location of interest in the patient-specific anatomic model based on the determined location of plaque, determined location meeting the predetermined criteria of pathology, or the location of possible vascular shedding.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the system is further configured for:
 determining a target location in the patient's vasculature, wherein the destination probability is a probability that the embolus traveling through the patient's circulatory system reaches the target location, based on the determined blood flow characteristics.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the system is further configured for:
 determining a vulnerable location of embolism based on the determined destination probability.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the system is further configured for:
 determining an association between a target location in the patient-specific anatomic model, the destination probability, and the location of interest.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the system is further configured for:
 determining, for a second location of interest, a second destination probability of an embolus associated with the second location of interest;   determining an association between the target location in the patient-specific anatomic model, the destination probability, and the second location of interest;   comparing the association between the target location in the patient-specific anatomic model, the destination probability, and the location of interest, and the association between the target location in the patient-specific anatomic model, the destination probability, and the second location of interest; and   determining generating a display or a treatment recommendation based on the comparison.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the system is further configured for:
 determining patient risk of a disease, based on the destination probability of the embolus, wherein the patient risk of the disease includes patient risk of a disease associated with a location in the patient's vasculature.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the risk of disease includes a risk of embolism, cognitive impairment, stroke, transient ischemic attack, pulmonary embolism, renal embolism, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         17 . A non-transitory computer readable medium for use on a computer system containing computer-executable programming instructions for performing a method of determining a patient risk assessment or treatment plan based on emboli dislodgement and destination, the method comprising:
 receiving a patient-specific anatomic model generated from patient-specific imaging of at least a portion of a patient's vasculature;   determining or receiving a location of interest in the patient-specific anatomic model of the patient's vasculature;   using a computing processor for calculating blood flow through the patient-specific anatomic model to determine blood flow characteristics through at least the portion of the patient's vasculature of the patient-specific anatomic model downstream from the location of interest; and   using a computing processor for particle tracking through the simulated blood flow to determine a destination probability of an embolus originating from the location of interest in the patient-specific anatomic model, based on the determined blood flow characteristics.   
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 17 , the method further comprising:
 determining, in the patient's vasculature, a location of a plaque, a location meeting a predetermined criteria of pathology, or a location of possible vascular shedding; and   determining or receiving the location of interest in the patient-specific anatomic model based on the determined location of plaque, determined location meeting the predetermined criteria of pathology, or the location of possible vascular shedding.   
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 17 , the method further comprising:
 determining a target location in the patient's vasculature, wherein the destination probability is a probability that the embolus traveling through the patient's circulatory system reaches the target location, based on the determined blood flow characteristics.   
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 19 , the method further comprising:
 determining a vulnerable location of embolism based on the determined destination probability.