Vascular image co-registration

A method for acquiring and displaying intravascular information in a system including an imaging flexible elongate member having a proximal end and a distal end, an imaging probe located near the distal end of the flexible elongate member, and configured to obtain information for generating an image of a vessel, and a radiopaque marker located near the imaging probe, the method comprising the steps of:

• storing angiogram image data in a first memory;
• storing intravascular image data derived from information obtained by the imaging probe in a second memory;
• storing radiopaque marker image data, distinct from the angiogram image data, in a third memory, the radiopaque marker image data being derived from information obtained from a fluoroscopic imaging device;
• combining, by a display processor, data retrieved from the first memory, the second memory and the third memory to render a composite image including:
• an enhanced radiological image derived from the angiogram image data comprising a superimposition of at least a portion of the angiogram data and the radiopaque marker data and providing a location of the radiopaque marker based upon an actual location during active fluoroscopy and an estimated location during inactive fluoroscopy, and
• an intravascular image element corresponding to the intravascular image data, wherein the enhanced radiological image and the intravascular image element are displayed proximate each other;
• and
• displaying a cursor upon the enhanced radiological image, indicative of a location of the imaging probe while acquiring data for the intravascular image element presently displayed on the composite image, said cursor having a position that is based at least in part on third data derived from the radiopaque marker image data previously stored in the third memory;
• wherein the estimated location is based on a calculated path of the imaging probe, and wherein an error function is calculated based on a difference between the estimated location of the radiopaque marker and the actual location of the radiopaque marker when active fluoroscopy is resumed after inactive fluoroscopy and wherein the error function is utilized to correct the calculated path.

A system for acquisition and co-registered display of intravascular information, comprising:

• an imaging flexible elongate member having a proximal end and a distal end;
• an imaging probe located near the distal end of the flexible elongate member, and configured to obtain information for generating an image of a vessel;
• a radiopaque located near the imaging probe;
• a first memory portion for storing angiogram image data;
• a second memory portion for storing intravascular image data derived from information obtained by the imaging probe;
• a third memory portion for storing radiopaque marker image data, the radiopaque marker image data being derived from information obtained from a fluoroscopic imaging device;
• a display processor configured to retrieve and combine data from the first memory portion, the second memory portion and the third memory portion, and further configured to render a composite image including:
• an enhanced radiological image derived from the angiogram image data comprising a superimposition of at least a portion of the angiogram data and the radiopaque marker image data and providing a location of the radiopaque marker based upon an actual location during active fluoroscopy and an estimated location during inactive fluoroscopy, wherein an error function is calculated based on a difference between the estimated location of the radiopaque marker and the actual location of the radiopaque marker when active fluoroscopy is resumed after inactive fluoroscopy and wherein the error function is utilized to correct the estimated location of the radiopaque marker for the preceding period of inactive fluoroscopy,
• an intravascular image element corresponding to the intravascular image data, wherein the enhanced radiological image and the intravascular image element are displayed proximate each other;
• and
• a cursor, displayed upon the enhanced radiological image, indicative of a location of the imaging probe while acquiring data for the intravascular image element presently displayed on the composite image, said cursor having a position that is based at least in part on third data derived from the radiopaque marker image data stored in the third memory portion.

A system for acquisition and co-registered display of intravascular information, comprising:

• a flexible elongate member having a proximal end and a distal end;
• a diagnostic probe located near the distal end of the flexible elongate member, and configured to obtain information related to a vessel;
• a radiopaque marker located near the diagnostic probe;
• a first memory for storing angiogram image data;
• a second memory for storing intravascular data derived from information obtained by the diagnostic probe;
• a third memory for storing radiopaque marker image data, distinct from the angiogram image data, the radiopaque marker image data being derived from information obtained from a fluoroscopic imaging device;
• a display processor configured to retrieve and combine data from the first memory, the second memory and the third memory, and further configured to render a composite image including:
• an enhanced radiological image derived from the angiogram image data comprising a superimposition of at least a portion of the angiogram data and the radiopaque marker image data and providing a location of the radiopaque marker based upon an actual location during active fluoroscopy and an estimated location during inactive fluoroscopy,
• an intravascular image element corresponding to the intravascular data, wherein the enhanced radiological image and the intravascular image element are displayed proximate each other;
• and
• a cursor, displayed upon the enhanced radiological image, indicative of a location of the diagnostic probe while acquiring data for the intravascular image element presently displayed on the composite image, said cursor having a position that is based at least in part on third data derived from the radiopaque marker image data stored in the third memory;
• wherein the display processor is further configured to calculate an error function based on a difference between the estimated location of the radiopaque marker and the actual location of the radiopaque marker and wherein the display processor further configured to utilize the error function to correct the estimated location of the radiopaque marker for the preceding period of inactive fluoroscopy.

A method for acquiring and displaying intravascular information in a system including a flexible elongate member having a proximal end and a distal end, a diagnostic probe located near the distal end of the flexible elongate member, and configured to obtain information related to a vessel, and a radiopaque marker located near the diagnostic probe, the method comprising the steps of:

• storing angiogram image data in a first memory;
• storing intravascular data derived from information obtained by the diagnostic probe in a second memory;
• storing radiopaque marker image data, distinct from the angiogram image data, in a third memory, the radiopaque marker image data being derived from information obtained from a fluoroscopic imaging device;
• combining, by a display processor, data retrieved from the first memory, the second memory and the third memory to render a composite image including:
• an enhanced radiological image derived from the angiogram image data comprising a superimposition of at least a portion of the angiogram data and the radiopaque marker data and providing a location of the radiopaque marker based upon an actual location during active fluoroscopy and an estimated location during inactive fluoroscopy, and
• an intravascular image element corresponding to the intravascular data, wherein the enhanced radiological image and the intravascular image element are displayed proximate each other;
• and
• displaying a cursor upon the enhanced radiological image, indicative of a location of the diagnostic probe while acquiring data for the intravascular image element presently displayed on the composite image, said cursor having a position that is based at least in part on third data derived from the radiopaque marker image data previously stored in the third memory;
• wherein the estimated location is based on a calculated path of the diagnostic probe, and wherein an error function is calculated based on a difference between the estimated location of the radiopaque marker and the actual location of the radiopaque marker when active fluoroscopy is resumed after inactive fluoroscopy and wherein the error function is utilized to correct the calculated path.

A system for acquisition and co-registered display of intravascular information, comprising:

• a flexible elongate member having a proximal end and a distal end;
• a diagnostic probe located near the distal end of the flexible elongate member, and configured to obtain information related to a vessel;
• a radiopaque marker located near the diagnostic probe;
• a first memory portion for storing angiogram image data;
• a second memory portion for storing intravascular data derived from information obtained by the diagnostic probe;
• a third memory portion for storing radiopaque marker image data, the radiopaque marker image data being derived from information obtained from a fluoroscopic imaging device;
• a display processor that combines data retrieved from the first memory portion, the second memory portion and the third memory portion to render a composite image including:
• an enhanced radiological image derived from the angiogram image data comprising a superimposition of at least a portion of the angiogram data and the radiopaque marker image data and providing a location of the radiopaque marker based upon an actual location during active fluoroscopy and an estimated location during inactive fluoroscopy, wherein an error function is calculated based on a difference between the estimated location of the radiopaque marker and the actual location of the radiopaque marker when active fluoroscopy is resumed after inactive fluoroscopy and wherein the error function is utilized to correct the estimated location of the radiopaque marker for the preceding period of inactive fluoroscopy,
• an intravascular image element corresponding to the intravascular data, wherein the enhanced radiological image and the intravascular image element are displayed proximate each other;
• and
• a cursor, displayed upon the enhanced radiological image, indicative of a location of the diagnostic probe while acquiring data for the intravascular image element presently displayed on the composite image, said cursor having a position that is based at least in part on third data derived from the radiopaque marker image data stored in the third memory portion.