SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR EMBOLISM PREDICTION USING EMBOLUS SOURCE AND DESTINATION PROBABILITIES

1 . A computer-implemented method of determining a patient risk assessment or treatment plan based on emboli dislodgement and destination, the method comprising:

receiving a patient-specific anatomic model generated from patient-specific imaging of at least a portion of a patient's vasculature;

determining or receiving a location of interest in the patient-specific anatomic model of the patient's vasculature;

using a computing processor for calculating blood flow through the patient-specific anatomic model to determine blood flow characteristics through at least the portion of the patient's vasculature of the patient-specific anatomic model downstream from the location of interest; and

using a computing processor for particle tracking through the simulated blood flow to determine a destination probability of an embolus originating from the location of interest in the patient-specific anatomic model, based on the determined blood flow characteristics.

2 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining, in the patient's vasculature, a location of a plaque, a location meeting a predetermined criteria of pathology, or a location of possible vascular shedding; and

determining or receiving the location of interest in the patient-specific anatomic model based on the determined location of plaque, determined location meeting the predetermined criteria of pathology, or the location of possible vascular shedding.

3 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining a target location in the patient's vasculature, wherein the destination probability is a probability that the embolus traveling through the patient's circulatory system reaches the target location, based on the determined blood flow characteristics.

4 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining a vulnerable location of embolism based on the determined destination probability.

5 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining an association between a target location in the patient-specific anatomic model, the destination probability, and the location of interest.

6 . The computer-implemented method of claim 5 , further comprising:

determining, for a second location of interest, a second destination probability of an embolus associated with the second location of interest;

determining an association between the target location in the patient-specific anatomic model, the destination probability, and the second location of interest;

comparing the association between the target location in the patient-specific anatomic model, the destination probability, and the location of interest, and the association between the target location in the patient-specific anatomic model, the destination probability, and the second location of interest; and

determining generating a display or a treatment recommendation based on the comparison.

7 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining patient risk of a disease, based on the destination probability of the embolus, wherein the patient risk of the disease includes patient risk of a disease associated with a location in the patient's vasculature.

8 . The computer-implemented method of claim 7 , wherein the risk of disease includes a risk of embolism, cognitive impairment, stroke, transient ischemic attack, pulmonary embolism, renal embolism, or a combination thereof.

9 . A system for determining a patient risk assessment or treatment plan based on emboli dislodgement and destination, the system comprising:

a data storage device storing instructions for determining a patient risk assessment or treatment plan based on emboli dislodgement and destination; and

a processor configured to execute the instructions to perform a method including:

receiving a patient-specific anatomic model generated from patient-specific imaging of at least a portion of a patient's vasculature;

determining or receiving a location of interest in the patient-specific anatomic model of the patient's vasculature;

using a computing processor for calculating blood flow through the patient-specific anatomic model to determine blood flow characteristics through at least the portion of the patient's vasculature of the patient-specific anatomic model downstream from the location of interest; and

using a computing processor for particle tracking through the simulated blood flow to determine a destination probability of an embolus originating from the location of interest in the patient-specific anatomic model, based on the determined blood flow characteristics.

10 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the system is further configured for:

determining, in the patient's vasculature, a location of a plaque, a location meeting a predetermined criteria of pathology, or a location of possible vascular shedding; and

determining or receiving the location of interest in the patient-specific anatomic model based on the determined location of plaque, determined location meeting the predetermined criteria of pathology, or the location of possible vascular shedding.

11 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the system is further configured for:

determining a target location in the patient's vasculature, wherein the destination probability is a probability that the embolus traveling through the patient's circulatory system reaches the target location, based on the determined blood flow characteristics.

12 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the system is further configured for:

determining a vulnerable location of embolism based on the determined destination probability.

13 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the system is further configured for:

determining an association between a target location in the patient-specific anatomic model, the destination probability, and the location of interest.

14 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the system is further configured for:

determining, for a second location of interest, a second destination probability of an embolus associated with the second location of interest;

determining an association between the target location in the patient-specific anatomic model, the destination probability, and the second location of interest;

comparing the association between the target location in the patient-specific anatomic model, the destination probability, and the location of interest, and the association between the target location in the patient-specific anatomic model, the destination probability, and the second location of interest; and

determining generating a display or a treatment recommendation based on the comparison.

15 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the system is further configured for:

determining patient risk of a disease, based on the destination probability of the embolus, wherein the patient risk of the disease includes patient risk of a disease associated with a location in the patient's vasculature.

16 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the risk of disease includes a risk of embolism, cognitive impairment, stroke, transient ischemic attack, pulmonary embolism, renal embolism, or a combination thereof.

17 . A non-transitory computer readable medium for use on a computer system containing computer-executable programming instructions for performing a method of determining a patient risk assessment or treatment plan based on emboli dislodgement and destination, the method comprising:

receiving a patient-specific anatomic model generated from patient-specific imaging of at least a portion of a patient's vasculature;

determining or receiving a location of interest in the patient-specific anatomic model of the patient's vasculature;

using a computing processor for calculating blood flow through the patient-specific anatomic model to determine blood flow characteristics through at least the portion of the patient's vasculature of the patient-specific anatomic model downstream from the location of interest; and

using a computing processor for particle tracking through the simulated blood flow to determine a destination probability of an embolus originating from the location of interest in the patient-specific anatomic model, based on the determined blood flow characteristics.

18 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 17 , the method further comprising:

determining, in the patient's vasculature, a location of a plaque, a location meeting a predetermined criteria of pathology, or a location of possible vascular shedding; and

determining or receiving the location of interest in the patient-specific anatomic model based on the determined location of plaque, determined location meeting the predetermined criteria of pathology, or the location of possible vascular shedding.

19 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 17 , the method further comprising:

determining a target location in the patient's vasculature, wherein the destination probability is a probability that the embolus traveling through the patient's circulatory system reaches the target location, based on the determined blood flow characteristics.

20 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 19 , the method further comprising:

determining a vulnerable location of embolism based on the determined destination probability.