Devices, systems, and methods for controlling field of view in imaging systems

Abstract

Devices, systems, and methods for controlling an intravascular imaging device are provided. For example, in one embodiment a method includes communicating a control signal to an actuator of the intravascular imaging device to cause oscillation of an imaging element of the intravascular imaging device, wherein the intravascular imaging device further includes an acoustic marker; receiving imaging data from the imaging element of the intravascular imaging device; identifying the acoustic marker in the imaging data by determining a correlation between the imaging data and a template representative of the acoustic marker; adjusting an aspect of the control signal based on identifying the acoustic marker; and communicating the adjusted control signal to the actuator of the intravascular imaging device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of controlling an intravascular imaging device, the method comprising:
 communicating a control signal to an actuator of the intravascular imaging device to cause oscillation of an imaging element of the intravascular imaging device, wherein the intravascular imaging device further includes an acoustic marker;   receiving imaging data from the imaging element of the intravascular imaging device;   identifying the acoustic marker in the imaging data by determining a correlation between the imaging data and a template representative of the acoustic marker;   adjusting an aspect of the control signal based on identifying the acoustic marker; and   communicating the adjusted control signal to the actuator of the intravascular imaging device.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein identifying the acoustic marker includes identifying the acoustic marker in a series of frames of the imaging data. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein identifying the acoustic marker includes determining a maximum correlation between the imaging data and the template in the series of frames of the imaging data. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein adjusting an aspect of the control signal includes adjusting at least one of power or energy to the actuator to cause the actuator to move the imaging element such that the acoustic marker is positioned in a desired location in a subsequent frame of the imaging data. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the template is representative of imaging data at a shallow depth of focus of the imaging element, the shallow depth of focus positioned outside of a target depth of focus including the vessel of the patient. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein determining a correlation includes determining a correlation between the template and a region of interest located at the shallow depth of focus in the imaging data. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the region of interest is selected based on at least one of: a distance of the acoustic marker relative to the imaging element, an angular extent of the acoustic marker relative to a field of view of the imaging element, a maximum anticipated frame-to-frame change in angle coverage, an acoustic marker location in a previous frame, an image depth, or a maximum expected imaging element motion between frames. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 communicating a control signal to the actuator of the intravascular imaging device to cause the imaging element to obtain initial imaging data including the acoustic marker.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 computing the template representative of the acoustic marker based on the initial imaging data using at least one of a thresholding algorithm or a running average algorithm.   
     
     
         10 . A method of controlling an imaging device, the method comprising:
 receiving imaging data representative of a field of view of an internal structure of a patient from an oscillating imaging element of the imaging device, the imaging device comprising a flexible elongate member having a distal portion including the oscillating imaging element and an acoustic marker;   processing the imaging data to identify the acoustic marker in the imaging data, wherein processing the imaging data to identify the acoustic marker includes correlating the imaging data and a template representative of imaging data that does not contain the acoustic marker; and   adjusting, based on processing the imaging data to identify the acoustic marker, a control signal provided to an actuator of the imaging device that imparts motion to the oscillating imaging element, wherein the control signal is adjusted to achieve a desired field of view for the oscillating imaging element.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein processing the imaging data includes identifying the acoustic marker in a series of frames of the imaging data. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein identifying the acoustic marker includes determining a minimum correlation between the imaging data and the template in the series of frames of the imaging data. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein adjusting the control signal includes adjusting at least one of power or energy provided to the actuator to cause the actuator to move the oscillating imaging element such that the acoustic marker is positioned in a desired location in a subsequent frame of the imaging data. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the template is representative of imaging data at a shallow depth of focus of the oscillating imaging element, the shallow depth of focus positioned outside of a target depth of focus including the internal structure of the patient. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein processing the imaging data includes correlating the template and a region of interest located at the shallow depth of focus in the imaging data. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the region of interest is selected based on at least one of: a distance of the acoustic marker relative to the oscillating imaging element, an angular extent of the acoustic marker relative to a field of view of the oscillating imaging element, a maximum anticipated frame-to-frame change in angle coverage, an acoustic marker location in a previous frame, an image depth, or a maximum expected oscillating imaging element motion between frames. 
     
     
         17 . An imaging system, comprising:
 an imaging device including:
 a flexible elongate member having a proximal portion and a distal portion, the flexible elongate member sized and shaped for use within an internal structure of a patient; 
 an imaging transducer positioned at the distal portion of the flexible elongate member; 
 a marker positioned at the distal portion of the flexible elongate member; and 
 an actuator operable to impart oscillating motion to the imaging transducer; and 
   a controller in communication with the imaging device, the controller operable to:
 receive imaging data representative of a field of view of the internal structure of a patient; 
 identify the marker in the imaging data by determining a correlation between the imaging data and a template representative of the marker; and 
 adjust a control signal provided to the actuator to achieve a desired field of view for the imaging element based on identifying the marker in the imaging data. 
   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the controller is operable to identify the marker in a series of frames of the imaging data. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the controller is operable to identify the marker in the imaging data by calculating a maximum correlation between the imaging data and the template in the series of frames of the imaging data. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the controller is further operable to:
 communicate a control signal to the actuator of the imaging device to cause the imaging transducer to obtain initial imaging data including the marker; and   compute the template representative of the marker based on the initial imaging data using at least one of a thresholding algorithm or a running average algorithm.