Cathworks Ltd.

Nessi Benishti

Guy Lavi

Ifat Lavi

Ran Kornowski

Idit Avrahami

An apparatus for performing a vascular assessment is disclosed. The apparatus creates a three-dimensional model that is representative of a coronary vessel tree of a patient based on at least two angiographic images. The apparatus estimates first blood flow resistance values for points along at least some vascular segments of the coronary vessel tree using vascular geometrical dimensions of the three-dimensional model. The apparatus also estimates second blood flow resistance values for the points along the at least some vascular segments of the coronary vessel tree using a volume of a crown of the vascular segment downstream from the respective point. The apparatus determines fractional flow reserve ('FFR') by calculating a ratio of the first blood flow resistance values and the second blood flow resistance values at each of the points along the at least some vascular segments of the coronary vessel tree.

Creating a vascular tree model

A method and apparatus for vascular assessment are disclosed. The apparatus, in some embodiments, receives, from a medical imaging device, a medical image of a coronary vessel tree of a subject and calculates a plurality of geometric measurements associated with individual portions of a vascular segment of the coronary vessel tree. The apparatus also determines a plurality of resistances associated with the plurality of geometric measurements associated with the individual portions of the vascular segment and determines a plurality of pressure drops across the individual portions of the vascular segment based on the determined resistances and a calculated or estimated blood flow. The apparatus further calculates based on the plurality of pressure drops, a functional index indicative of a presence or an absence of a stenosis within the vascular segment.

Diagnostically useful results in real time

A method and apparatus for vascular assessment are disclosed. The apparatus, in some embodiments, receives a plurality of 2-D angiographic images of a portion of a vasculature of a subject, and processes the images to produce a stenotic model over the vasculature. The stenotic model has measurements of the vasculature at one or more locations along vessels of the vasculature. The apparatus, in some embodiments, determines a flow characteristic of the stenotic model and calculates an index indicative of vascular function, based, at least in part, on the flow characteristic in the stenotic model.

A method for vascular assessment is disclosed. The method, in some embodiments, comprises receiving a plurality of 2-D angiographic images of a portion of a vasculature of a subject, and processing the images to produce a stenotic model over the vasculature, the stenotic model having measurements of the vasculature at one or more locations along vessels of the vasculature. The method, in some embodiments, further comprises obtaining a flow characteristic of the stenotic model, and calculating an index indicative of vascular function, based, at least in part, on the flow characteristic in the stenotic model.

Calculating a fractional flow reserve

An apparatus for vascular modeling is disclosed. The apparatus receives medical images from an imaging device that include representations of a coronary vessel tree of a subject recorded at a different viewing angles. The apparatus determines, from a first of the medical images, a first centerline set and first vessel diameters for sample points along the first centerline set, and determines, from a second of the medical images, a second centerline set and second vessel diameters for sample points along the second centerline set. The apparatus determines a correspondence between the first centerline set and the second centerline set, and determines diameters for a combined centerline set based on the correspondence of sample points along the first and second centerline sets. The apparatus provides the combined centerline set for estimating blood flow resistance values of the coronary vessel tree of the subject to determine at least one potential stenosis.

A method for real-time vascular modeling and assessment is disclosed. Modeling, in some embodiments, comprises receiving a plurality of 2-D angiographic images of a portion of a vasculature of a subject, and processing the images to automatically detect 2-D features, for example, paths along vascular extents, which are projected into 3-D to determine homologous features among blood vessels and construct 3-D vascular extents and determine other vascular characteristics. Assessment, in some embodiments, comprises processing models selectively different from one another to produce one or more vascular indexes which indicate a diagnostic preference, for example, to perform a medical intervention such as a stent implantation. Speed is achieved, for example, by the method being optimized for determining the effects of a medical intervention. In some embodiments, results are produced quickly enough to allow use of the method to perform PCI within the same catheterization used to perform diagnostic imaging.

A vascular assessment apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus is configured to receive medical images of a coronary vessel tree of a subject from a medical imaging device and analyze the medical images to identify vessel segments within the coronary vessel tree. For each identified vessel segment, the apparatus is configured to determine flow rates at each identified vessel segment and calculate an index indicative of vascular function based on the determined flow rates.

Vascular flow assessment

A method for vascular modeling is disclosed. The method, in some embodiments, comprises receiving a plurality of 2-D angiographic images of a portion of a vasculature of a subject, and processing the images to automatically detect 2-D features, for example, paths along vascular extents, which are projected into 3-D to determine homologous features among blood vessels. In some embodiments, projection and/or image registration is iteratively altered to improve feature position matching. Based on 3-D vascular extents and their registration to 2-D images, additional features such as vascular width are optionally determined and added to the model.

A vascular assessment apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus is configured to receive medical images of a coronary vessel tree of a subject from a medical imaging device and analyze the medical images to identify vessel segments within the coronary vessel tree. For each identified vessel segment, the apparatus is configured to analyze portions of the segment to determine at least one of a radius, diameter, or cross-sectional area of the vessel segment at the analyzed portions, determine resistances for the analyzed portions of the vessel segment based the radius, diameter, or the cross-sectional area at the analyzed portions, and combine the determined resistances for the analyzed portions of the vessel segment to determine a total resistance of the identified vessel segment. The example apparatus is also configured to determine flow rates at each identified vessel segment and calculate an index indicative of vascular function based on the determined flow rates.

Method for real-time vascular modeling and assessment. Modeling, in some embodiments, comprises receiving a plurality of 2-D angiographic images of a portion of a vasculature of a subject, and processing the images to automatically detect 2-D features, for example, paths along vascular extents, which are projected into 3-D to determine homologous features among blood vessels and construct 3-D vascular extents and determine other vascular characteristics. Assessment, in some embodiments, comprises processing models selectively different from one another to produce one or more vascular indexes which indicate a diagnostic preference, for example, to perform a medical intervention such as a stent implantation. Speed is achieved, for example, by the method being optimized for determining the effects of a medical intervention. In some embodiments, results are produced quickly enough to allow use of the method to perform PCI within the same catheterization used to perform diagnostic imaging.

A vascular assessment apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus is configured to receive a stenotic model having measurements of a coronary vessel tree of a subject, the stenotic model created from a set of medical images recorded before the subject underwent a stent procedure. The apparatus is also configured to receive a post-medical image of the coronary vessel tree of the subject after the stent has been placed into the coronary vessel tree and identify vascular features within the post medical image that correspond to vascular features that are provided among the set of medical images. The apparatus is further configured to modify geometrical information for the corresponding vascular features in the stenotic model to create an updated stenotic model from the identified vascular features of the post medical image and calculate an index indicative of vascular function, based, at least in part, on the updated stenotic model.

A method for vascular assessment is disclosed. The method includes receiving a plurality of medical images of a portion of a vasculature of a subject and processing the medical images to produce a model of the vasculature. The method further includes obtaining a flow characteristic of the model and calculating an index indicative of vascular function, based, at least in part, on the flow characteristic in the model.

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Kfar-Saba, Israel

Nessi Benishti