Method for Determining a Stiffness Information of a Medical Instrument, Method for Imaging Support During a Minimally Invasive Interventional Procedure, X-Ray Device, Computer Program and Electronically Readable Storage Medium

Simple SummaryContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

This invention relates to an advanced method for determining the stiffness of medical instruments—such as guidewires, catheters, or stent delivery devices—during minimally invasive procedures in the vascular system. By combining 3D imaging of the patient's vessels and 2D X-ray projection images of the instrument, the system estimates how much the instrument deforms the blood vessels, which provides real-time, patient-specific feedback and more accurately overlays anatomical images for image-guided interventions. The invention includes corresponding software, control devices, and data storage means for implementation in medical imaging systems such as C-arm X-ray devices.

Use CasesContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Guidance and navigation during endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) procedures (e.g., aortic aneurysm stenting).
• Improved visualization and accuracy during minimally invasive catheter-based vascular interventions, such as stent placement and angioplasty.
• Assessment and selection of appropriate medical instruments for specific patient anatomies based on real-time feedback of stiffness and deformation.
• Real-time support for complex interventional radiology and cardiology procedures, including coronary interventions or aortic valve replacement.
• Integration with surgical navigation systems to improve physician confidence and reduce navigation errors.

BenefitsContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Provides enhanced accuracy in tracking the position and shape of medical instruments within deformed vessels, improving procedural safety and effectiveness.
• Reduces overlay errors on support images by accounting for vessel deformation caused by the instrument's stiffness.
• Minimizes the need for contrast agents during procedures, thereby lowering patient risk and exposure.
• Enables real-time, automatic adaptation of anatomical overlays, increasing clinician confidence and trust in imaging data.
• Can handle multiple instruments with different stiffnesses simultaneously, supporting complex interventions.
• Improves decision making regarding instrument choice through objective, image-based stiffness characterization.

Technical Classifications (CPCs)

Inventors & Applicants

Patent Abstract

Method for determining a stiffness information of a medical instrument, method for imaging support during a minimally invasive interventional procedure, x-ray device, computer program and electronically readable storage medium Method for determining a stiffness information of a medical instrument (18, 19, 19') used during a minimally invasive interventional procedure in a vascular system (30) of a patient (6) by - recording a three-dimensional volume image (23) of the vascular system (30) at least in the intervention region, - deriving from the volume image (23) three-dimensional vessel course information, in particular including centerlines (31) and/or surface information and/or volume information for at least vessels used by the instrument (18, 19, 19') during the interventional procedure and/or the position of ostia (32) along at least a part of the vessels, - recording a two-dimensional projection image (33, 33') of the instrument (18, 19, 19') using an x-ray device (1), wherein the x-ray device (1) and/or the projection image (33, 33') are registered to the volume image (23), and - determining a stiffness information of the instrument (18, 19, 19') by evaluation of the projection image (33, 33') using segmentation information determined by segmenting the instrument (18, 19, 19') in the projection image (33, 33') and/or the vessel course information.