Method and system for providing information from a patient-specific model of blood flow

1. A method for providing patient-specific blood flow information using at least one computer system having a touchscreen, the method comprising:

displaying, on the touchscreen, a three-dimensional model based on patient-specific data, the three-dimensional model representing at least a portion of an anatomical structure of the patient;

receiving an input from a user relating to a location on the touchscreen, the input indicating a modification of the three-dimensional model and causing the computer system to generate a display of an intervention at a location of the three-dimensional model corresponding to the location on the touchscreen;

displaying, on the touchscreen, information regarding a blood flow characteristic in the anatomical structure based on the modification of the three-dimensional model; and

receiving an interaction from the user dragging the displayed intervention along the anatomical structure to update the displayed information regarding the blood flow characteristic based on further modification of the three-dimensional model.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the input relates to the location on the touchscreen indicated by at least one pointing object controlled by the user, the location on the touchscreen indicating a location in the three-dimensional model for the modification.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

updating the displayed information as the user modifies the location on the touchscreen and on the displayed three-dimensional model.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

forming a pin at the location, the pin being movable by the user within the three-dimensional model; and

updating, on the touchscreen, the information regarding the blood flow characteristic in the anatomical structure as the pin is moved by the user.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

displaying the information regarding the blood flow characteristic in the anatomical structure at a plurality of locations in the three-dimensional model and indicating the information on the displayed three-dimensional model using at least one of shading, patterns, or coloring.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

rotating the displayed three-dimensional model in response to the user swiping a surface of the touchscreen, an amount and direction of rotation depending on a characteristic of the swipe.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

adjusting a zoom on the displayed three-dimensional model in response to the user pinching two of a plurality of pointing objects located at separate locations with respect to the touchscreen, an amount of the zoom depending on a characteristic of the pinch.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the modification corresponds to placement of a stent, and the processor is configured to display the stent as the intervention.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

receiving an input indicating a size of the stent or a change in location or change in size of the stent.

10. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

providing a split screen including a first portion and a second portion, the first portion displaying the three-dimensional model representing at least the portion of the anatomical structure and the stent, and the second portion displaying the three-dimensional model after placement of the stent.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the modification corresponds to a formation of a bypass, and the processor is further configured to display the bypass as the intervention.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

receiving an input indicating at least one location for connecting the bypass to the displayed three-dimensional model, and an input indicating a change in location or a change in size of the bypass.

13. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

providing a split screen including a first portion and a second portion, the two portions being configured to receive different inputs indicating different modifications of the respective displayed three-dimensional models.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving the input includes receiving the input from at least one pointing object controlled by the user, and the at least one pointing object includes at least one digit of the user or a stylus.

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the information includes at least one of pressure gradient, fractional flow reserve, pressure, flow rate, and velocity.

16. The method of claim 1 , wherein the anatomical structure of the patient includes at least a portion of an aorta and at least a portion of a plurality of coronary arteries emanating from the portion of the aorta.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the information includes a fractional flow reserve indicating a ratio between a pressure at a location in the plurality of coronary arteries and a pressure at a location upstream from the location in the plurality of coronary arteries.

18. The method of claim 1 , wherein the anatomical structure of the patient includes at least one of a portion of a plurality of arteries in the patient's heart, neck, head, thorax, abdomen, arms, or legs.

19. A system for providing patient-specific blood flow information for a patient, the system comprising:

a display device including a touchscreen and being configured to display a three-dimensional model representing at least a portion of an anatomical structure of the patient based on patient-specific data; and

a processor configured to: (i) receive an input from a user relating to a location on the touchscreen, the input causing a modification of the three-dimensional model, (ii) generate a display of an intervention at a location of the three-dimensional model corresponding to the location on the touchscreen, (iii) display information regarding the blood flow characteristic in the anatomical structure based on the modification of the three-dimensional model, and (iv) receive an interaction from the user dragging the displayed intervention along the anatomical structure to update the displayed information regarding the blood flow characteristic based on further modification of the three-dimensional model.

20. A non-transitory computer readable medium for use on at least one touchscreen computer system containing computer-executable programming instructions for providing patient-specific blood flow information, the instructions being executable by the at least one touchscreen computer system for:

displaying, on the touchscreen, a three-dimensional model based on patient-specific data, the three-dimensional model representing at least a portion of an anatomical structure of the patient;

receiving an input from a user relating to a location on the touchscreen, the input indicating a modification of the three-dimensional model and causing the computer system to generate a display of an intervention at a location of the three-dimensional model corresponding to the location on the touchscreen;

displaying information regarding the blood flow characteristic in the anatomical structure based on the modification of the three-dimensional model; and

receiving an interaction from the user dragging the displayed intervention along the anatomical structure to update the displayed information regarding the blood flow characteristic based on further modification of the three-dimensional model.