Method and apparatus for medical intervention procedure planning

Abstract

An imaging system for use in medical intervention procedure planning includes a medical scanner system for generating a volume of cardiac image data, a data acquisition system for acquiring the volume of cardiac image data, an image generation system for generating a viewable image from the volume of cardiac image data, a database for storing information from the data acquisition and image generation systems, an operator interface system for managing the medical scanner system, the data acquisition system, the image generation system, and the database, and a post-processing system for analyzing the volume of cardiac image data, displaying the viewable image and being responsive to the operator interface system. The operator interface system includes instructions for using the volume of cardiac image data and the viewable image for bi-ventricular pacing planning, atrial fibrillation procedure planning, or atrial flutter procedure planning.

1 . A computer system for use in a medical intervention procedure, comprising:
 a data port for receiving probe information and identifiable in information from the medical intervention procedure, the probe information relating to a characteristic of a patient's heart, the identifiable information relating to an identified landmark of a probed vessel from the medical intervention procedure;   a database for storing information acquired from an interventional procedure planning session;   a memory comprising instructions for managing the probe information received at said data port and the stored information in said database;   a processor for analyzing the information at said data port in combination with the stored information in said database;   an operator interface system for managing said memory and said processor; and   a display responsive to said operator interface for visualizing the information in said database in combination with the information at said data port.   
     
     
         2 . The computer system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a display responsive to said operator interface for visualizing real-time vessel tracking of at least one of a coronary sinus or a coronary artery.   
     
     
         3 . A method for using a volume of cardiac image data during a medical interventional procedure, comprising:
 retrieving at least one procedure planning cardiac image from an image database;   viewing the at least one procedure planning cardiac image;   applying a probe into a cardiac vessel of a patient during the interventional procedure;   identifying a landmark of the probed cardiac vessel from the interventional procedure;   inserting a geometric marker into the at least one procedure planning cardiac image at the identified landmark;   using the identified landmark and the inserted geometric marker, registering the coordinate system of the interventional procedure with the coordinate system or the at least one procedure planning cardiac image; and   displaying the position of the applied probe over the registered at least one procedure planning cardiac image in order to perform real time vessel tracking and navigation of the probed cardiac vessel.   
     
     
         4 . The method for using a volume of cardiac image data set forth in  claim 3 , wherein said displaying further comprises:
 displaying a real-time vessel tracking of at least one of a coronary sinus or a coronary artery.   
     
     
         5 . The method for using a volume of cardiac image data set forth in  claim 4 , wherein:
 said applying a probe comprises applying a catheter; and   said displaying further comprises displaying the location of the catheter.