Automated identification and classification of intravascular lesions

Abstract

Devices, systems, and methods of mapping a vessel system of a patient and identifying lesions therein are disclosed. This includes a method of evaluating a vessel of a patient, the method comprising obtaining image data for the vessel of the patient, obtaining physiological measurements for the vessel of the patient, co-registering the obtained physiological measurements with the obtained image data such that the physiological measurements are associated with corresponding portions of the vessel of the patient, analyzing the co-registered physiology measurements to determine a classification of a lesion within the vessel of the patient, and outputting, to a user interface, the classification of the lesion. Other associated methods, systems, and devices are also provided herein.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system, comprising:
 a guidewire or catheter configured to be positioned within a blood vessel of a patient, wherein the guidewire or catheter comprises a pressure sensor configured to acquire pressure measurements of the blood vessel, wherein the pressure sensor is coupled to a distal portion of the guidewire or catheter; and   a processor configured for communication with a display and the guidewire or catheter, wherein the processor is configured to:
 communicate with an x-ray imaging device to obtain an x-ray image of the blood vessel; 
 control the guidewire or catheter to acquire the pressure measurements via the pressure sensor; 
 determine, based on the pressure measurements, a plurality of pressure ratios associated with a plurality of locations within the blood vessel; 
 co-register the plurality of pressure ratios with the x-ray image such that each pressure ratio of the plurality of pressure ratios is associated with a corresponding location of the blood vessel; 
 identify a position of a lesion within the blood vessel based on the plurality of co-registered pressure ratios; and 
 output, to the display, a screen display comprising the x-ray image and a graphical representation of the position of the lesion, wherein the graphical representation is disposed at the position of the lesion in the x-ray image. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the position of the lesion spans a length of the blood vessel, and   wherein the graphical representation spans the length of the blood vessel in the x-ray image.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the graphical representation is overlaid on the blood vessel in the screen display. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to:
 receive a user input activating identification of the position of the lesion;   identify the position of the lesion in response to the user input; and   include the graphical representation in the screen display in response to the user input.   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 ,
 wherein the screen display comprises an activation status corresponding to identification of the position of the lesion,   wherein, in response to the user input, the screen display comprises an on state for the activation status.   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to:
 receive a user input deactivating identification of the position of the lesion; and   output the screen display without the graphical representation.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 ,
 wherein the screen display comprises an activation status corresponding to identification of the position of the lesion,   wherein, in response to the user input, the screen display comprises an off state for the activation status.   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to identify the position of the lesion based on a change in the plurality of co-registered pressure ratios between the plurality of locations. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the processor is configured to analyze the x-ray image to identify an anatomical name for the blood vessel, and   wherein the screen display comprises the anatomical name.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the processor utilizes a computer aided detection algorithm to identify the anatomical name for the blood vessel. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the x-ray image includes at least one of a two-dimensional angiographic image, a three-dimensional angiographic image, or a computed tomography angiographic (CTA) image. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the processor is configured to determine a classification of the lesion, and   wherein the screen display comprises the classification.