Determination and visualization of anatomical landmarks for intraluminal lesion assessment and treatment planning

Abstract

Systems, devices, and methods are provided to determine and visualize landmarks with an intraluminal imaging system for lesion assessment and treatment. An intraluminal imaging system may be configured to receive imaging data from an intraluminal imaging device, generate a set of image frames using received imaging data, and automatically calculate a luminal area associated with the body lumen for each of the image frames. The calculated luminal area and a longitudinal view of the body lumen may be displayed to a user on a display device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a processor configured for communication with an intravascular imaging catheter, wherein the processor configured to:
 receive imaging data from the intravascular imaging catheter as the intravascular imaging catheter is moved through a length of a blood vessel; 
 generate, based on the imaging data, a plurality of transverse views along the length of the blood vessel and a longitudinal view of the blood vessel; 
 determine, based on the imaging data, a plurality of measurements associated with the blood vessel; 
 determine, based on the plurality of measurements, a first location along the length of the blood vessel that is associated with a minimum lumen area; and 
 output, to a display in communication with the processor, a single screen comprising:
 the longitudinal view of the blood vessel; 
 one or more markers overlaid on the longitudinal view; 
 a transverse view area; and 
 a first area for the plurality of measurements, 
 
   wherein the one or more markers comprise a first marker identifying the first location,   wherein the transverse view area comprises a first transverse view of the plurality of transverse views that depicts the first location, and   wherein the first area for the plurality of measurements comprises at least one of:
 a numerical value of the minimum lumen area; or 
 a numerical value of a diameter associated with the blood vessel. 
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the processor is configured to determine, based on the plurality of measurements:
 a second location along the length of the blood vessel that is associated with a distal reference; and 
 a third location along the length of the blood vessel that is associated with a proximal reference, and 
   wherein the one or more markers comprise:
 a second marker identifying the second location; and 
 a third marker identifying the third location. 
   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the diameter associated with the minimum lumen area comprises at least one of an average diameter, a minimum diameter, or a maximum diameter. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the processor is configured to receive a user input identifying a further location along the length of the blood vessel that is different than the first location,   wherein the single screen further comprises a second area for the plurality of measurements, and   wherein the second area for the plurality of measurements comprises at least one of:
 a numerical value of a lumen area at the further location; or 
 a numerical value of a lumen diameter at the further location. 
   
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the first area for the plurality of measurements and the second area for the plurality of measurements are separate from one another on the single screen. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 4 ,
 wherein the transverse view area comprises a further transverse view of the plurality of transverse views that depicts the further location, and   wherein the one or more markers comprise a further marker identifying the further location.   
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the single screen further comprises a first view option and a second view option,   wherein, with the first view option selected, the first area for the plurality of measurements comprises at least one of:
 the numerical value of the minimum lumen area; or 
 the numerical value of the diameter associated with the minimum lumen area. 
   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the processor is configured to receive a user input selecting the second view option. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein, in response to the user input, the processor is configured to change the first area for the plurality of measurements. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein, with the second view option selected, the first area for the plurality of measurements comprises a numerical value of a percent stenosis. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the numerical value of the percent stenosis is associated with at least one of:
 the blood vessel;   a segment of the blood vessel between a distal reference and a proximal reference;   the distal reference;   the minimum lumen area; or   the proximal reference.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 10 ,
 wherein the processor is configured to receive a user input identifying a further location along the length of the blood vessel that is different than the first location,   wherein the single screen further comprises a second area for the plurality of measurements, and   wherein the second area for the plurality of measurements comprises:
 a numerical value of a lumen area at the further location; and 
 a numerical value of a lumen diameter at the further location. 
   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the first area for the plurality of measurements and the second area for the plurality of measurements are separate from one another on the single screen.