Systems and methods for determining blood flow characteristics using flow ratio

1. A system for determining cardiovascular information for a patient, the system comprising:

at least one data storage device that stores instructions for processing images to determine cardiovascular information; and

at least one processor configured to execute the instructions to perform operations comprising:

receiving, at the at least one processor, patient-specific data of a patient's anatomy;

generating, using the at least one processor, a first three-dimensional model representing a portion of the patient's anatomy based on the patient-specific data;

determining, using the at least one processor, a first blood flow rate within the patient's anatomy at a point of interest in the first three-dimensional model using anatomic data and estimates of blood flow characteristics associated with a plurality of individuals;

generating, using the at least one processor, a second three-dimensional model by modifying the first three-dimensional model of the portion of the patient's anatomy to include representation of a potential treatment, wherein the modifying includes generating at least one new lumen or passageway in the first three-dimensional model that is representative of the potential treatment including a bypass grafting treatment;

determining, using the at least one processor, a second blood flow rate at a point in the second three-dimensional model respective to the point of interest in the first three-dimensional model using the anatomic data and the estimates of blood flow characteristics associated with the plurality of individuals; and

determining, using the at least one processor, a ratio of the second blood flow rate to the first blood flow rate, the ratio usable to evaluate the potential treatment.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein modifying the first three-dimensional model further comprises removing one or more anatomic restrictions.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first three-dimensional model 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.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the at least one processor is configured for:

determining the ratio at a plurality of locations in the plurality of coronary arteries.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the processor is further configured for generating a report that includes the ratio at the plurality of locations, and a comparison of one or more blood flow characteristics at the plurality of locations, the report usable to evaluate the potential treatment.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the patient-specific data includes imaging data.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is configured for:

computing the first blood flow rate and the second blood flow rate using a physics-based model or machine learning.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein modifying the first three-dimensional model further comprises modifying a lumen geometry of the first three-dimensional model.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the at least one processor is configured for:

computing the first blood flow rate using a parameter associated with at least one of a level of hyperemia, a level of exercise, or a medication.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein modifying the first three-dimensional model further includes generation of a new lumen in the first three-dimensional model.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein:

the ratio is indicative of a fractional flow reserve value of the patient at the point of interest; and

the operations further include determining a location of a functionally significant narrowing in a coronary artery of a heart of the patient based on the indicated fractional flow reserve value.

12. A method for determining patient-specific cardiovascular information for a patient using at least one computer system, the method comprising:

receiving, at the at least one computer system, patient-specific data of a patient's anatomy;

generating, using the at least one computer system, a first three-dimensional model representing a portion of the patient's anatomy based on the patient-specific data;

determining, using the at least one computer system, a first blood flow rate within the patient's anatomy at a point of interest in the first three-dimensional model using anatomic data and estimates of blood flow characteristics associated with a plurality of individuals;

generating, using the at least one computer system, a second three-dimensional model by modifying the first three-dimensional model of the portion of the patient's anatomy to include representation of a potential treatment, wherein the modifying includes generating at least one new lumen or passageway in the first three-dimensional model that is representative of the potential treatment including a bypass grafting treatment;

determining, using the at least one computer system, a second blood flow rate at a point in the second three-dimensional model respective to the point of interest in the first three-dimensional model using the anatomic data and the estimates of blood flow characteristics associated with the plurality of individuals; and

determining, using the at least one computer system, a ratio of the second blood flow rate to the first blood flow rate, the ratio usable to evaluate the potential treatment.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein modifying the first three-dimensional model further comprises removing one or more anatomic restrictions.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the first three-dimensional model 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.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:

determining the ratio at a plurality of locations in the plurality of coronary arteries.

16. The method of claim 12 , wherein the patient-specific data includes imaging data.

17. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

computing the first blood flow rate and the second blood flow rate using a physics-based model or machine learning.

18. The method of claim 12 , wherein modifying the first three-dimensional model further comprises a change to a lumen geometry of the first three-dimensional model.

19. A non-transitory computer readable medium for use on at least one computer system containing computer-executable programming instructions for performing a method for determining patient-specific cardiovascular information for a patient, the method comprising:

receiving, at the at least one computer system, patient-specific data of a patient's anatomy;

generating, using the at least one computer system, a first three-dimensional model representing a portion of the patient's anatomy based on the patient-specific data;

determining, using the at least one computer system, a first blood flow rate within the patient's anatomy at a point of interest in the first three-dimensional model using anatomic data and estimates of blood flow characteristics associated with a plurality of individuals;

generating, using the at least one computer system, a second three-dimensional model by modifying the first three-dimensional model of the portion of the patient's anatomy to include representation of a potential treatment, wherein the modifying includes generating at least one new lumen or passageway in the first three-dimensional model that is representative of the potential treatment including a bypass grafting treatment;

determining, using the at least one computer system, a second blood flow rate at a point in the second three-dimensional model respective to the point of interest in the first three-dimensional model using the anatomic data and the estimates of blood flow characteristics associated with the plurality of individuals; and

determining, using the at least one computer system, a ratio of the second blood flow rate to the first blood flow rate, the ratio usable to evaluate the potential treatment.

20. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 19 , wherein modifying the first three-dimensional model further comprises removal of one or more anatomic restrictions.