Abstract: The disclosure relates generally to the field of vascular system and peripheral vascular system data collection, imaging, image processing and feature detection relating thereto. In part, the disclosure more specifically relates to methods for detecting position and size of contrast cloud in an x-ray image including with respect to a sequence of x-ray images during intravascular imaging. Methods of detecting and extracting metallic wires from x-ray images are also described herein such as guidewires used in coronary procedures. Further, methods for of registering vascular trees for one or more images, such as in sequences of x-ray images, are disclosed. In part, the disclosure relates to processing, tracking and registering angiography images and elements in such images. The registration can be performed relative to images from an intravascular imaging modality such as, for example, optical coherence tomography (OCT) or intravascular ultrasound (IVUS).

Abstract: A method and apparatus of automatically locating in an image of a blood vessel the lumen boundary at a position in the vessel and from that measuring the diameter of the vessel. From the diameter of the vessel and estimated blood flow rate, a number of clinically significant physiological parameters are then determined and various user displays of interest generated. One use of these images and parameters is to aid the clinician in the placement of a stent. The system, in one embodiment, uses these measurements to allow the clinician to simulate the placement of a stent and to determine the effect of the placement. In addition, from these patient parameters various patient treatments are then performed.

Abstract: The disclosure relates, in part, to computer-based visualization of stent position within a blood vessel. A stent can be visualized using intravascular data and subsequently displayed as stent struts or portions of a stent as a part of a one or more graphic user interface(s) (GUI). In one embodiment, the method includes steps to distinguish stented region(s) from background noise using an amalgamation of angular stent strut information for a given neighborhood of frames. The GUI can include views of a blood vessel generated using distance measurements and demarcating the actual stented region(s), which provides visualization of the stented region. The disclosure also relates to display of intravascular diagnostic information such as indicators. An indicator can be generated and displayed with images generated using an intravascular data collection system. The indicators can include one or more viewable graphical elements suitable for indicating diagnostic information such as stent information.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of automatically locating in an image of a blood vessel the lumen boundary at a position in the vessel and from that measuring the diameter of the vessel. From the diameter of the vessel and estimated blood flow rate, a number of clinically significant physiological parameters are then determined and various user displays of interest generated. One use of these images and parameters is to aid the clinician in the placement of a stent. The system, in one embodiment, uses these measurements to allow the clinician to simulate the placement of a stent and to determine the effect of the placement. In addition, from these patient parameters various patient treatments are then performed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of automatically locating in an image of a blood vessel the lumen boundary at a position in the vessel and from that measuring the diameter of the vessel. From the diameter of the vessel and estimated blood flow rate, a number of clinically significant physiological parameters are then determined and various user displays of interest generated. One use of these images and parameters is to aid the clinician in the placement of a stent. The system, in one embodiment, uses these measurements to allow the clinician to simulate the placement of a stent and to determine the effect of the placement. In addition, from these patient parameters various patient treatments are then performed.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for identifying features of a blood vessel using extravascular and intravascular images in order to estimate a virtual flow reserve (VFR) of the imaged blood vessel. Aspects of the disclosure include using extravascular images to estimate the size of the blood vessel in regions that have not been intravascularly imaged. The VFR estimation may be based on a resistance model that incorporates both the intravascular image data and the estimated blood vessel size. In other aspects, multiangled extravascular images are captured and analyzed in order to identify the size and orientation of branch vessels.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to systems, methods, and algorithms to train a machine learning model or neural network to classify OCT images. The neural network or machine learning model can receive annotated OCT images indicating which portions of the OCT image are blocked and which are clear as well as a classification of the OCT image as clear or blocked. After training, the neural network can be used to classify one or more new OCT images. A user interface can be provided to output the results of the classification and summarize the analysis of the one or more OCT images.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure provide for methods, systems, and apparatuses, including computer-readable storage media, for lipid detection by identifying fibrotic caps in medical images of blood vessels. A method includes receiving one or more input images of a blood vessel and processing the one or more input images using a machine learning model trained to identify locations of fibrotic caps in blood vessels. The machine learning model is trained using a plurality of training images each annotated with locations of one or more fibrotic caps. A method includes identifying and characterizing fibrotic caps of lipid pools based on differences in radial signal intensities measured at different locations of an input image. A system can generate one or more output images having segments that are visually annotated representing predicted locations of fibrotic caps covering lipidic plaques.

Abstract: The disclosure relates, in part, to computer-based visualization of stent position within a blood vessel. A stent can be visualized using intravascular data and subsequently displayed as stent struts or portions of a stent as a part of a one or more graphic user interface(s) (GUI). In one embodiment, the method includes steps to distinguish stented region(s) from background noise using an amalgamation of angular stent strut information for a given neighborhood of frames. The GUI can include views of a blood vessel generated using distance measurements and demarcating the actual stented region(s), which provides visualization of the stented region. The disclosure also relates to display of intravascular diagnostic information such as indicators. An indicator can be generated and displayed with images generated using an intravascular data collection system. The indicators can include one or more viewable graphical elements suitable for indicating diagnostic information such as stent information.

Abstract: In part, the invention relates to a probe suitable for use with image data collection system. The probe, in one embodiment, includes an optical transceiver, such as a beam director, and an acoustic transceiver such as an ultrasound transducer. The optical transceiver is in optical communication with an optical fiber in optical communication with a beam director configured to transmit light and receive scattered light from a sample such as a wall of a blood vessel. The acoustic transceiver includes an ultrasound device or subsystem such as a piezoelectric element configured to generate acoustic waves and receive reflected acoustic waves from the sample.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods to receiving OCT or IVUS image data frames to output one or more representations of a blood vessel segment. The image data frames may be stretched and/or aligned using various windows or bins or alignment features. Arterial features, such as the calcium burden, may be detected in each of the image data frames. The arterial features may be scored. The score may be a stent under-expansion risk. The representation may include an indication of the arterial features and their respective score. The indication may be a color coded indication.

Abstract: In part, the disclosure relates to an automated method of branch detection with regard to a blood vessel imaged using an intravascular modality such as OCT, IVUS, or other imaging modalities. In one embodiment, a representation of A-lines and frames generated using an intravascular imaging system is used to identify candidate branches of a blood vessel. One or more operators such as filters can be applied to remove false positives associated with other detections.

Abstract: In part, the disclosure relates to method for identifying regions of interest in a blood vessel. The method includes the steps of: providing OCT image data of the blood vessel; applying a plurality of different edge detection filters to the OCT image data to generate a filter response for each edge detection filter; identifying in each edge detection filter response any response maxima; combining the response maxima for each edge detection filter response while maintaining the spatial relationship of the response maxima, to thereby create edge filtered OCT data; and analyzing the edge filtered OCT data to identify a region of interest, the region of interest defined as a local cluster of response maxima. In one embodiment, one or more indicia are positioned in one or more panels to emphasize a reference vessel profile as part of a user interface.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to the identification of when a blood vessel has been sufficiently cleared of blood so as to capture intravascular images of the vessel wall. The disclosed systems and methods allow for the identification of an initial and a final blood clearing based on the identification of edges within scanlines of a plurality of image frames. The edges of a plurality of scanlines may be analyzed to determine an average edge offset for each image frame, and the average edge offsets for a plurality of image frames may be averaged over various time-windows, so as to determine when the initial and final blood clearing events have occurred. Once a final blood clearing event has been identified, the disclosed system may automatically initiate a catheter pullback procedure, so as to capture intravascular images over a length of the vessel that has been sufficiently cleared of blood.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the disclosure relates to a probe that a cylindrical marker band defining an inner surface, an outer surface, a first end and a second end and having a band length, the inner surface defining a marker band bore, the cylindrical marker band includes a radiopaque material; a molded unitary lens defining an elongate optical fiber receiving section having a fiber section length and a beam directing surface, wherein the fiber section length and the band length overlap along an overlap distance; and an optical fiber, wherein a first section of the optical fiber is disposed in the optical fiber receiving section, wherein a portion of the first section of the optical fiber is disposed within the marker band bore.

Abstract: In part, the invention relates to systems and methods of calibrating a plurality of frames generated with respect to a blood vessel as a result of a pullback of an intravascular imaging probe being pullback through the vessel. A calibration feature disposed in the frames that changes between a subset of the frames can be used to perform calibration. Calibration can be performed post-pullback. Various filters and image processing techniques can be used to identify one or more feature in the frames including, without limitation, a calibration feature, a guidewire, a side branch, a stent strut, a lumen of the blood vessel, and other features. The feature can be displayed using a graphic user interface.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods to receiving OCT or IVUS image data frames to output one or more representations of a blood vessel segment. The image data frames may be stretched and/or aligned using various windows or bins or alignment features. Arterial features, such as the calcium burden, may be detected in each of the image data frames. The arterial features may be scored. The score may be a stent under-expansion risk. The representation may include an indication of the arterial features and their respective score. The indication may be a color coded indication.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to systems, methods, and algorithms to perform wavenumber linearization and dispersion correction in optical systems without the need for hardware modifications, empirical adjustments, precise mirror alignment, and which can be conducted at low computational costs and in real-time. A one-time calibration process can generate spectra or calibration criteria, including wavenumber-linearization criteria, dispersion correction, and spectral flattening spectra, which can be used to correct an optical coherence tomogram in real time.

Abstract: In part, the disclosure relates to intravascular data collection systems and the software-based visualization and display of intravascular data relating to detected side branches and side branch obstruction. An estimate of side branch diameter can be made based on a vessel profile or a maximum diameter of a vessel at a distal and proximal location relative to the side branch. A amount of side branch obstruction may be determined by comparing an observed side branch diameter with in the image data with the estimated side branch diameter. In addition, an amount of blood flow obstruction may also be determined.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to stent detection and shadow detection in the context of intravascular data sets obtained using a probe such as, for example, and optical coherence tomography probe or an intravascular ultrasound probe.