Systems and methods for processing images to determine plaque progression and regression

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed for evaluating a patient with vascular disease. One method includes receiving patient-specific data regarding a geometry of the patient's vasculature; creating an anatomic model representing at least a portion of a location of disease in the patient's vasculature based on the received patient-specific data; identifying one or more changes in geometry of the anatomic model based on a modeled progression or regression of disease at the location; calculating one or more values of a blood flow characteristic within the patient's vasculature using a computational model based on the identified one or more changes in geometry of the anatomic model; and generating an electronic graphical display of a relationship between the one or more values of the calculated blood flow characteristic and the identified one or more changes in geometry of the anatomic model.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A computer-implemented method for processing images for quantitative hemodynamic flow analysis, comprising:
 retrieving patient specific image data;   creating a 3D reconstruction of a vessel of interest from the patient specific image data;   determining one or more systems of interest based on the 3D reconstruction, the one or more systems of interest includes a diseased segment related to a lesion;   determining a location of the diseased segment;   estimating characteristics of the one or more systems of interest; and   calculating one or more hemodynamic measurements of a change in the lesion in the diseased segment based on the characteristics of the one or more systems of interest.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the method is performed by one or more processors executing program instructions. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the determining of the diseased segment location includes defining disease based on a geometry of the system of interest of the diseased segment. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the disease is defined based on a presence of vessel narrowing. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein:
 the system of interest includes coronary arteries; and   the calculating is based in part on a patient condition of the coronary arteries.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 determining a geometry of the system of interest of the diseased segment; and   calculating a hemodynamic quantity based on the geometry of the system of interest, wherein the hemodynamic quantity includes one of a computed blood pressure or a computer blood velocity.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 calculating a pressure gradient based on proximal and distal ends of the lesion, wherein the one or more hemodynamic measurements are calculated in part based on the pressure gradient.   
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the calculating the one or more hemodynamic measurements within the system of interest includes calculating at least one of i) hemodynamic measurements based on progression or ii) hemodynamic measurements based on regression. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the progression and regression are calculated based on the characteristics of the one or more systems of interest. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the calculating further comprises:
 determining a characteristic curve for the system of interest; and   calculating a hemodynamic quantity of interest based on the characteristic curve.   
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the calculating further comprises:
 determining a patient specific hemodynamic velocity based on a patient specific geometry and the characteristics of the one or more systems of interest.   
     
     
         32 . A system for processing images for quantitative hemodynamic flow analysis, comprising:
 at least one processor, that when executing program instructions, is configured to:   retrieve patient specific image data;   create a 3D reconstruction of a vessel of interest from the patient specific image data;   determine one or more systems of interest based on the 3D reconstruction, the one or more systems of interest includes a diseased segment related to a lesion;   determine a location of the diseased segment;   estimate characteristics of the one or more systems of interest; and   calculate one or more hemodynamic measurements of a change in the lesion in the diseased segment based on the characteristics of the one or more systems of interest.   
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 32 , wherein:
 the system of interest includes coronary arteries; and   the calculating is based in part on a patient condition of the coronary arteries.   
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 32 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:
 determining a geometry of the system of interest of the diseased segment; and   calculating a hemodynamic quantity based on the geometry of the system of interest, wherein the hemodynamic quantity includes one of a computed blood pressure or a computer blood velocity.   
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 32 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to calculate a pressure gradient based on proximal and distal ends of the lesion, wherein the one or more hemodynamic measurements are calculated in part based on the pressure gradient. 
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 32 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to: calculate one or more hemodynamic measurements within the system of interest includes calculating at least one of i) hemodynamic measurements based on progression or ii) hemodynamic measurements based on regression. 
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 36 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to calculate the progression and regression based on the characteristics of the one or more systems of interest. 
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 32 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:
 determine a characteristic curve for the system of interest; and   calculate a hemodynamic quantity of interest based on the characteristic curve.   
     
     
         39 . The system of  claim 32 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:
 determine a patient specific hemodynamic velocity based on a patient specific geometry and the characteristics of the one or more systems of interest.   
     
     
         40 . The system of  claim 32 , wherein the determining of the diseased segment location includes defining disease based on a geometry of the system of interest of the diseased segment.