IP Library Granted Patent US 12,027,275
Granted Patent B2
US 12,027,275 · App. 18/355,500 · Granted Jul 2, 2024

Systems and methods for estimating hemodynamic forces acting on plaque and monitoring risk

Inventors: Bon-Kwon Koo (Seoul, KR); Gilwoo Choi (Mountain View, CA); Hyun Jin Kim (San Mateo, CA); Charles A. Taylor (Atherton, CA)
Assignee: HeartFlow, Inc.
G16H50/50A61B5/02007A61B5/0215A61B5/026G16H50/20G16H50/30
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,027,275
App. No.
18/355,500
Granted
Jul 2, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

Computer-implemented methods are disclosed for estimating values of hemodynamic forces acting on plaque or lesions. One method includes: receiving one or more patient-specific parameters of at least a portion of a patient's vasculature that is prone to plaque progression, rupture, or erosion; constructing a patient-specific geometric model of at least a portion of a patient's vasculature that is prone to plaque progression, rupture, or erosion, using the received one or more patient-specific parameters; estimating, using one or more processors, the values of hemodynamic forces at one or more points on the patient-specific geometric model, using the patient-specific parameters and geometric model by measuring, deriving, or obtaining one or more of a pressure gradient and a radius gradient; and outputting the estimated values of hemodynamic forces to an electronic storage medium. Systems and computer readable media for executing these methods are also disclosed.

Claims (40)

1. A computer-implemented method for training a machine learning algorithm comprising:

acquiring a plurality of patient-specific geometric models;

determining at least one patient-specific parameter associated with each of the plurality of patient-specific geometric models;

determine at least one simulated hemodynamic characteristic for one or more points of the plurality of patient-specific geometric models;

for each of the plurality of patient-specific geometric models, associating the at least one patient-specific parameter with the at least one simulated hemodynamic characteristic;

using the association of the at least one patient-specific parameter with the at least one simulated hemodynamic characteristic, training a machine learning algorithm; and

outputting the trained machine learning algorithm.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one simulated hemodynamic characteristic includes a wall shear stress and/or an axial plaque stress.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one patient-specific parameter includes at least one of a patient characteristic, a physiological characteristic, a geometric characteristic, a plaque characteristic, or a coronary dynamics characteristic.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 3 , wherein the at least one patient-specific parameter includes a pressure gradient.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein determining the at least one simulated hemodynamic characteristic includes using computational fluid dynamics.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein associating the at least one patient-specific parameter with the at least one simulated hemodynamic characteristic includes associating a feature vector of a plurality of patient-specific parameters with the at least one simulated hemodynamic characteristic.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 6 , wherein the feature vectors are used to train the machine learning algorithm.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one patient-specific parameter is obtained non-invasively.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the trained machine learning algorithm includes at least one feature weight.

10. A system for monitoring hemodynamic risk in a patient, the system comprising:

at least one memory storing instructions; and

at least one processor operatively connected to the at least one memory and configured to execute the instructions to perform operations, including:

acquiring a plurality of patient-specific geometric models;

determining at least one patient-specific parameter associated with each of the plurality of patient-specific geometric models;

determine at least one simulated hemodynamic characteristic for one or more points of the plurality of patient-specific geometric models;

for each of the plurality of patient-specific geometric models, associating the at least one patient-specific parameter with the at least one simulated hemodynamic characteristic;

using the association of the at least one patient-specific parameter with the at least one simulated hemodynamic characteristic, training a machine learning algorithm; and

outputting the trained machine learning algorithm.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the at least one simulated hemodynamic characteristic includes a wall shear stress and/or an axial plaque stress.

12. The system of claim 10 , wherein the at least one patient-specific parameter includes at least one of a patient characteristic, a physiological characteristic, a geometric characteristic, a plaque characteristic, or a coronary dynamics characteristic.

13. The system of claim 10 , wherein the at least one patient-specific parameter includes a pressure gradient.

14. The system of claim 10 , wherein the at least one patient-specific parameter includes at least one of a patient characteristic, a physiological characteristic, a geometric characteristic, a plaque characteristic, or a coronary dynamics characteristic.

15. The system of claim 10 , wherein the at least one patient-specific parameter is obtained non-invasively.

16. A non-transitory computer readable medium for use on a computer system containing computer-executable programming instructions for a method of monitoring hemodynamic risk in a patient, the method comprising:

acquiring a plurality of patient-specific geometric models;

determining at least one patient-specific parameter associated with each of the plurality of patient-specific geometric models;

determine at least one simulated hemodynamic characteristic for one or more points of the plurality of patient-specific geometric models;

for each of the plurality of patient-specific geometric models, associating the at least one patient-specific parameter with the at least one simulated hemodynamic characteristic;

using the association of the at least one patient-specific parameter with the at least one simulated hemodynamic characteristic, training a machine learning algorithm; and

outputting the trained machine learning algorithm.

17. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16 , wherein the at least one simulated hemodynamic characteristic includes a wall shear stress and/or an axial plaque stress.

18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16 , wherein the at least one patient-specific parameter includes at least one of a patient characteristic, a physiological characteristic, a geometric characteristic, a plaque characteristic, or a coronary dynamics characteristic.

19. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16 , wherein the at least one patient-specific parameter includes a pressure gradient.

20. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16 , wherein the at least one patient-specific parameter includes at least one of a patient characteristic, a physiological characteristic, a geometric characteristic, a plaque characteristic, or a coronary dynamics characteristic.

Assignments (3)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 11, 2025
From: HAYFIN SERVICES LLP
To: HEARTFLOW, INC.
Reel/Frame 072876/0775 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 18, 2024
From: HEARTFLOW, INC.
To: HAYFIN SERVICES LLP
Reel/Frame 067775/0966 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 25, 2023
From: KOO, BON-KWON; CHOI, GILWOO; KIM, HYUN JIN; TAYLOR, CHARLES A.
To: HEARTFLOW, INC.
Reel/Frame 064370/0869 →
Cited By (6)
US 12,555,228 US 12,558,048 US 12,599,352 US 12,620,092 US 12,635,965 US 12,712,082