Method and apparatus for performing virtual pullback of an intravascular imaging device

An electronic apparatus configured to perform a virtual pullback of an intravascular imaging device, the electronic apparatus comprising:

• a screen configured to display an output to the user;
• a memory storage component configured to store programming code;
• and
• a computer processor configured to execute the programming code to perform the following tasks:
• displaying, on the screen, information from a first view and a second view simultaneously, wherein the first view contains virtual representations of an anatomical region of a human body and an intravascular imaging device disposed in the anatomical region, and wherein the second view contains a cross-sectional image of a segment of the anatomical region corresponding to a location of the intravascular imaging device, and wherein the first virtual representation of the intravascular imaging device includes an accurate visual portrayal of a shape and a geometry of the intravascular imaging device, including an elongate catheter body, a transducer, and a plurality of markers located along at least a portion of a longitudinal axis of the catheter body, and wherein the virtual representation of the intravascular imaging device has a first transducer position with respect to the anatomical region and a first number of the markers;
• moving, in response to a user input, the virtual representation of the intravascular imaging device with respect to the virtual representation of the anatomical region such that, as the virtual representation of the intravascular imaging device is being moved, it is being displayed with a plurality of second transducer positions with respect to the anatomical region that are different from the first transducer position and a plurality of second numbers of the markers that are different from the first number of the markers, wherein the moving comprises covering UP an increasing number of the markers at least in part by the transducer as the intravascular imaging device is being moved out of the anatomical region;
• and
• updating the cross-sectional image as the first virtual representation of the intravascular imaging device is being moved, wherein the updated cross-sectional image corresponds to a new location of the intravascular imaging device.

An apparatus comprising a non-transitory, tangible machine-readable storage medium storing a computer program, wherein the computer program contains machine-readable instructions that when executed electronically by computer processors, perform:

• displaying, on a touch-sensitive screen, information from a first view and a second view simultaneously, wherein the first view contains virtual representations of an anatomical region of a human body and an intravascular imaging device disposed in the anatomical region, and wherein the second view contains a cross-sectional image of a segment of the anatomical region corresponding to a location of the intravascular imaging device, and wherein the virtual representation of the intravascular imaging device includes an accurate visual portrayal of a shape and a geometry of the intravascular imaging device, including an elongate catheter body, a transducer, and a plurality of markers located along at least a portion of a longitudinal axis of the catheter body, and wherein the virtual representation of the intravascular imaging device has a first transducer position with respect to the anatomical region and a first number of the markers;
• moving, in response to a user input, the virtual representation of the intravascular imaging device with respect to the virtual representation of the anatomical region such that as the virtual representation of the intravascular imaging device is being moved, it is being displayed with a plurality of second transducer positions with respect to the anatomical region that are different from the first transducer position and a plurality of second numbers of the markers that are different from the first number of the markers, wherein the moving comprises covering up an increasing number of the markers at least in part by the transducer as the intravascular imaging device is being moved out of the anatomical region;
• and
• updating the cross-sectional image as the virtual representation of the intravascular imaging device is being moved, wherein the updated cross-sectional image corresponds to a new location of the intravascular imaging device.