# US 12,109,065 B2 · Devices, systems, and methods for vessel assessment > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,109,065 B2 - Document ID: US12109065B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/242,127 - Filed: 2023-09-05 - Published: 2023-12-21 - Granted: 2024-10-08 - Earliest claimed: 2014-05-06 - Assignees: Philips Image Guided Therapy Corporation - Applicants: Philips Image Guided Therapy Corporation - Inventors: David M. Sheehan; Bernhard Sturm - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12109065B2 ## CPC - A61B 8/12: in body cavities or body tracts, e.g. by using catheters - A61B 5/0095: {by applying light and detecting acoustic waves, i.e. photoacoustic measurements} - A61B 5/02007: {Evaluating blood vessel condition, e.g. elasticity, compliance} - A61B 5/0215: by means inserted into the body - A61B 5/4848: {Monitoring or testing the effects of treatment, e.g. of medication} - A61B 5/7425: {Displaying combinations of multiple images regardless of image source, e.g. displaying a reference anatomical image with a live image} - A61B 6/032: {Transmission computed tomography [CT]} - A61B 6/037: {Emission tomography} - A61B 6/4417: {related to combined acquisition of different diagnostic modalities} - A61B 6/463: {characterised by displaying multiple images or images and diagnostic data on one display} - A61B 6/504: {for diagnosis of blood vessels, e.g. by angiography} - A61B 6/5247: {combining images from an ionising-radiation diagnostic technique and a non-ionising radiation diagnostic technique, e.g. X-ray and ultrasound} - A61B 8/0883: {for diagnosis of the heart} - A61B 8/0891: {for diagnosis of blood vessels} - A61B 8/4416: {related to combined acquisition of different diagnostic modalities, e.g. combination of ultrasound and X-ray acquisitions} - G01R 33/34084: {implantable coils or coils being geometrically adaptable to the sample, e.g. flexible coils or coils comprising mutually movable parts} - G01R 33/48: NMR imaging systems - G06T 7/0016: {involving temporal comparison} - A61B 5/0035: {adapted for acquisition of images from more than one imaging mode, e.g. combining MRI and optical tomography} - A61B 5/0066: {Optical coherence imaging} - A61B 5/1075: {for measuring dimensions by non-invasive methods, e.g. for determining thickness of tissue layer (A61B8/0858 takes precedence)} - A61B 5/1076: {for measuring dimensions inside body cavities, e.g. using catheters (A61B3/1005 takes precedence)} - A61B 5/1079: {using optical or photographic means} - A61B 2090/364: {Correlation of different images or relation of image positions in respect to the body} - A61F 2/82: Devices providing patency to, or preventing collapsing of, tubular structures of the body, e.g. stents (stent-grafts for tubular structures of the body other than blood vessels A61F2/04; stent-grafts for blood vessels A61F2/07) - G01R 33/285: {Invasive instruments, e.g. catheters or biopsy needles, specially adapted for tracking, guiding or visualization by NMR} - G01R 33/4808: {Multimodal MR, e.g. MR combined with positron emission tomography [PET], MR combined with ultrasound or MR combined with computed tomography [CT]} - G01R 33/5635: {Angiography, e.g. contrast-enhanced angiography [CE-MRA] or time-of-flight angiography [TOF-MRA]} - G06T 2207/30104: Vascular flow; Blood flow; Perfusion - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - G01R: MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES (indicating correct tuning of resonant circuits H03J3/12) - G06T: IMAGE DATA PROCESSING OR GENERATION, IN GENERAL - A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C) ## Abstract Devices, systems, and methods for visually depicting a vessel and evaluating a physiological condition of the vessel are disclosed. One embodiment includes obtaining, at a first time, a first image of the vessel, the image being in a first medical modality, and obtaining, at a second time subsequent to the first time, a second image of the vessel, the image being in the first medical modality. The method also includes spatially co-registering the first and second images and outputting a visual representation of the co-registered first and second images on a display. Further, the method includes determining a physiological difference between the vessel at the first time and the vessel at the second time based on the co-registered first and second images, and evaluating the physiological condition of the vessel of the patient based on the determined physiological difference. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus, comprising: a processor configured to: receive a first image of a blood vessel obtained at a first time, wherein the first image depicts a same location of the blood vessel with a first vessel structure; receive a second image of the blood vessel obtained at a second time, wherein the second image depicts the same location of the blood vessel with a second vessel structure; receive a third image of the blood vessel obtained at a third time, wherein the third image depicts the same location of the blood vessel with a third vessel structure; generate a screen display comprising: the first image; the second image; and the third image; and output the screen display on a display, wherein the first image, the second image, and the third image are displayed simultaneously in the screen display, wherein the first image, the second image, and the third image comprise a same imaging modality, wherein the first image is obtained before a therapy directed to the same location is performed, wherein at least one of the second image or the third image is obtained after the therapy directed to the same location is performed, wherein the therapy comprises at least one of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), angioplasty, stenting, coronary artery graft, ablation, cryotherapy, atherectomy, or administration of a drug, and wherein at least one of the second vessel structure or the third vessel structure is different than the first vessel structure as a result of a physiological change caused by the therapy. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the screen display further comprises: a first label proximate to the first image and identifying the first time; a second label proximate to the second image and identifying the second time; a third label proximate to the third image and identifying the third time. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second image and the third image are obtained after the therapy is performed, wherein the second vessel structure and the third vessel structure are different than the first vessel structure. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the third vessel structure is different than the second vessel structure. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the second image is obtained during an intravascular procedure to perform the therapy, and wherein the third image is obtained during a follow-up visit. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the second image is obtained during an initial follow-up visit, and wherein the third image is obtained during a subsequent follow-up visit. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first image, the second image, and the third image comprise a same view of the blood vessel. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the screen display further comprises at least one of: a first marker overlaid on the first image proximate to the same location such that the same location with the first vessel structure is visually indicated; a second marker overlaid on the second image proximate to the same location such that the same location with the second vessel structure is visually indicated; or a third marker overlaid on the third image proximate to the same location such that the same location with the third vessel structure is visually indicated. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the first image, the second image, and the third image depict a length of the blood vessel, and wherein the same location indicated by at least one of the first marker, the second marker, or the third marker is a location along the length of the blood vessel. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first image, the second image, and the third image are extraluminal images. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the first image, the second image, and the third image comprise one of: an x-ray image, an angiogram image, an ultrasound image, a two-dimensional computed tomography (CT) image, a three-dimensional CT image, a computed tomography angiogram (CTA) image, a positron emission tomography (PET) image, a PET-CT image, a magnetic resonance image (MRI), or a single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) image. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first image, the second image, and the third image are endoluminal images. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the first image, the second image, and the third image comprise one of: an intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) image, a forward looking IVUS (FL-IVUS) image, an intravascular photoacoustic (IVPA) image, a near-infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) image, an optical coherence tomography (OCT) image, an intracardiac echocardiography (ICE) image, a forward-looking ICE (FLICE) image, or an intravascular magnetic resonance image (MRI). ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an imaging device configured to obtain at least one of the first image, the second image, or the third image. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the imaging device comprises an extraluminal imaging device. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the imaging device comprises an endoluminal imaging device. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to: obtain a first pressure ratio at the first time and corresponding to the first vessel structure; obtain a second pressure ratio at the second time and corresponding to the second vessel structure; and obtain a third pressure ratio at the third time and corresponding to the third vessel structure, and wherein the screen display further comprises: a first representation of the first pressure ratio proximate to the first image; a second representation of the second pressure ratio proximate to the second image; and a third representation of the third pressure ratio proximate to the third image.