SYSTEM, METHOD AND COMPUTER-ACCESSIBLE MEDIUM FOR EFFECTUATING REAL TIME IMAGE-BASED PHYSIOLOGY AND/OR CORONARY MEASUREMENTS

1 . An imaging system, comprising:

at least one partially radiopaque reference object provided within an imaging field-of-view of an X-ray radiation source and in vicinity of at least one portion of a body or a target object, and configured to receive an X-ray radiation generated by the X-ray radiation source; and

at least one computer processor configured to generate an X-ray image of vasculature of the at least one portion of the body containing an image of the reference object based on (i) a first radiation provided from the at least one portion, and (ii) a second radiation provided from the reference object.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one computer processor is configured to generate an X-ray image after a partially radiopaque contrast agent is provided into the at least one portion.

3 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising an X-ray detector in at least one of optical communication or data communication with the at least one computer processor.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one reference object is a 2-dimensional object or a three-dimensional object.

5 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the at least one reference object is at least one of a triangle-shaped object, a square-shaped object, a grid-shaped object, or a polygonal-shaped object.

6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one reference object is arranged as a pattern.

7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one reference object is provided on a platform on which the at least one portion is positioned.

8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one reference object is provided within the portion of the body.

9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one reference object is provided on a an imaging catheter.

10 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one reference object is provided on a guide catheter.

11 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one reference object is provided on at least one of a front section or a back portion of the body or the target object.

12 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one reference object comprises an image-readable identification code.

13 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the image-readable identification code has 3-dimensional characteristics.

14 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the 3-dimensional characteristics are usable to encode at least one portion of the information in an attenuation of X-ray through each of the 3-dimensional characteristics or one or more locations thereof.

15 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one reference object is at least partially composed of a metal material and or a polymer material.

16 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one computer processor is configured to generate to obtain patient metadata from the image of the radiopaque reference object.

17 . The system of claim 1 , wherein pixel sizes of the X-ray image are obtained from the image of the radiopaque reference object.

18 . The system of claim 1 , wherein a second computer processor is configured to automatically detect the reference object within the X-ray image.

19 . The system of claim 1 , wherein a second compute processor is configured to automatically detect a contrast-filled coronary artery from the first portion within the X-ray image.

20 . The system of claim 19 , wherein the computer processor is configured to measure physiologic information based on information from the detected reference object and the detected contrast-filled coronary artery.

21 . The system of claim 20 , wherein physiologic information may include a measure of flow rate, factional flow reserve, coronary flow reserve or an index of microcirculatory resistance.

22 . The system of claim 1 , wherein at least one computer processor is configured to extract information from the at least one X-ray image.

23 . The system of claim 22 , wherein the extracted information is provided from the reference object and the vasculature.

24 . The system of claim 22 , wherein the at least one computer processor is further configured to measure a physiological index or a structural index based on the extracted information.

25 . The system of claim 24 , wherein the physiological index includes at least one of a flow rate, a fractional flow reserve, a coronary flow reserve or an index of microcirculatory resistance.

26 . The system of claim 22 , wherein the structural index includes at least one of a stenosis, an apposition, a distance, a size or a length of at least one section of a vessel.

27 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a user interface which is configured to facilitate a user input to provide user data to the at least one computer processor.

28 . The system of claim 27 , wherein the user data includes at least one of anatomic information, physiologic information or reference object information.

29 . The system of claim 28 , wherein the at least one computer processor is further configured to automatically measure at least one geometric data or physiology data for at least one artery of the vasculature based on the user data.

30 . The system of claim 20 , wherein the at least one computer processor is configured to determine physiologic information using a computational fluid dynamics assessment of at least one artery of the vasculature.

31 . The system of claim 20 , wherein the at least one computer processor is configured to determine physiologic information using a machine-learned assessment of at least one artery of the vasculature.

32 . A method of performing image-based coronary assessments within a body, comprising:

disposing at least one reference object within an imaging field-of-view of an X-ray radiation generator, and in vicinity of at least one portion of a body or a target object;

providing an X-ray radiation to at least one portion of a body or a target and the at least one reference object; and

generating at least one X-ray image of the at least one portion containing an image of the reference object based on (i) a first radiation provided from the at least one portion, and (ii) a second radiation provided from the reference object.

33 . The method of claim 32 , further comprising providing a contrast agent into or near the at least one portion while generating the at least one X-ray image.

34 . The method of claim 32 , further comprising measuring a physiological feature of the at least one portion based on information from both the first radiation and the second radiation.

35 . The method of claim 32 , wherein a physiological feature may include an index of flow rate, fractional flow reserve, coronary flow reserve or an index of microcirculatory resistance.

36 . The method of claim 32 , wherein the at least one reference object is a patterned object having known properties.

37 . A method for tracking use of a technology, the method comprising:

disposing a partially radiopaque reference object within an imaging field-of-view of an X-ray light generator, and in vicinity of at least one portion of a body or a target object; and

facilitating image-based detection and tracking of the target object using a first X-ray radiation received from the at least one portion, and a second X-ray radiation received from at least one interpretable symbol of the reference object.

38 . The method of claim 37 , further comprising obtaining financial information based on the tracking of the body or the target object.

39 . A method of performing real-time image-based coronary assessment, comprising:

providing an X-ray radiation to at least one portion of a body

generating at least one X-ray image of the at least one portion after a partially radiopaque contrast agent is provided in or on the at least one portion;

transmitting the X-ray image directly to a processor;

measuring a physiology index based on the X-ray image; and displaying a representation of the physiology index on a display.

40 . The method of claim 37 , wherein the X-ray image is transmitted via a wired connection or a wireless connection from a data streaming port (e.g., which can be a video out port) of an X-ray apparatus.

41 . The method of claim 37 , wherein the X-ray image is not a DICOM standard image.

42 . The method of claim 37 , further comprising utilizing sequential images (e.g., from more than one X-ray angle) to improve or adjust the measurement.

43 . The method of claim 37 , further comprising performing the image-based coronary assessment at a single X-ray imaging angle.

44 . The method of claim 37 , further comprising utilizing a reference object to adjust the measurement.

45 . A real-time image-based coronary assessment system, comprising:

an X-ray apparatus configured to provide an X-ray radiation to at least one portion of a body, and generate at least one X-ray image of the at least one portion after at least partially radiopaque contrast agent is provided into the at least one portion; and

a computer processor configured to receive the X-ray image directly from the X-ray apparatus and extract information from the directly-obtained X-ray image.

46 . The system of claim 45 , wherein the information includes a physiology or structural measurement of the at least one portion.

47 . The system of claim 46 , further comprising a display configured to provide a first representation of the at least one portion within the X-ray image and a second representation of the physiology or structural measurement.

48 . The system of claim 45 , wherein the X-ray image is received via a video out signal.

49 . A method for providing a real-time image-based coronary assessment, comprising:

providing an X-ray radiation to at least one portion of a body by an X-ray apparatus;

generating at least one X-ray image of the at least one portion after at least partially radiopaque contrast agent is provided into the at least one portion; and

with a computer processor, (i) receiving the X-ray image directly from the X-ray apparatus, and (ii) extracting information from the directly-obtained X-ray image.

50 . The method of claim 49 , wherein the information includes a physiology or structural measurement of the at least one portion.

51 . The method of claim 50 , further comprising a display configured to provide a first representation of the at least one portion within the X-ray image and a second representation of the physiology or structural measurement.

52 . The method of claim 49 , wherein the X-ray image is received via a video out signal.

53 . A method of performing angiography image referencing, the method comprising:

providing a partially radiopaque contrast agent within a bodily lumen;

disposing a partially radiopaque reference object in the vicinity of the body lumen, imaging a portion of the bodily lumen and the radiopaque reference object, detecting a portion of the contrast agent and the reference object automatically within the image.

54 . The method of claim 53 , further comprising displaying the image.

55 . The method of claim 53 , further comprising adjusting the display of the image based on the automatically detected contrast agent and reference object.

56 . The method of claim 53 , further comprising measuring a physiological feature of the bodily lumen based on the automatically detected contrast agent and reference object.

57 . A method for tracking use of a technology, the method comprising:

disposing a partially radiopaque reference object within an imaging field-of-view wherein,

the radiopaque reference object comprises an image-readable symbol or combination of symbols that allows tracking of its use.

58 . The method of claim 57 , further comprising charging a payment based on the tracking.

59 . A measurement system, comprising:

at least one partially radiopaque reference object provided within an imaging field-of-view of an X-ray radiation source and in vicinity of at least one portion of a body or a target object, and configured to receive the X-ray radiation;

a data interface; and

at least one computer processor configured to:

receive, directly via the data interface, at least one X-ray image of vasculature of the at least one portion of the body containing at least part of an image of the reference object;

calibrate the dimensions of the at least one X-ray image based on the reference object.

60 . The system of claim 59 , wherein the at least one computer processor is configured to automatically detect the reference object in the image.

61 . The system of claim 59 , wherein the at least one computer processor is configured to automatically detect the vasculature in the image.

62 . The system of claim 59 , wherein the reference object is an intravascular device.

63 . The system of claim 59 , wherein the reference object is a catheter.

64 . The system of claim 59 , wherein the reference object is an extravascular device.

65 . The system of claim 59 , wherein the at least one computer processor is part of an measurement system which is an intravascular imaging system.

66 . The system of claim 59 , further comprising a user interface configured to receive user-inputted information.

67 . The system of claim 66 , wherein the user-inputted information which is at least one of anatomic information, physiologic information, or reference object information.

68 . The system of claim 66 , wherein the user-inputted information is usable, at least in part, to calibrate the X-ray image.

69 . The system of claim 59 , wherein at least one computer processor is configured to extract information from the at least one X-ray image.

70 . The system of claim 59 , wherein the extracted information is provided from the reference object and the vasculature.

71 . The system of claim 70 , wherein the at least one computer processor is further configured to provide an image-based coronary assessment based on the extracted information.

72 . The system of claim 71 , wherein the image-based coronary assessment is a physiological measurement or a structural measurement.

73 . The system of claim 72 , wherein the physiological measurement includes at least one of a flow rate, a fractional flow reserve, a coronary flow reserve or an index of microcirculatory resistance.

74 . The system of claim 72 , wherein the structural measurement includes at least one of a stenosis, a position, a distance, a size or a length of at least one section of a vessel.

75 . The system of claim 59 , wherein the at least one X-ray image excludes a DICOM standard image.

76 . The system of claim 71 , wherein the at least one computer processor is further configured to control or adjust the assessment by utilizing sequential images from more than one of the at least one X-ray image.

77 . The system of claim 71 , wherein the at least one computer processor is further configured to perform the image-based coronary assessment at a single X-ray imaging angle.

78 . The system of claim 71 , wherein the at least one computer processor is further configured to adjust the assessment using a reference object.

79 . The system of claim 59 , wherein the data interface is a data transfer cable.

80 . An imaging system, comprising:

at least one insertion device structured to be provided into a body and including at least one section which is configured to receive the X-ray radiation; and

at least one computer processor configured to generate an X-ray image of vasculature of the at least one portion of the body containing an image of at least one portion of the body based on (i) a second radiation provided from the at least one section; and (ii) information regarding the at least one insertion device.

81 . The system of claim 80 , wherein the at least one computer processor is further configured to determine information regarding at least one coronary measurement from the X-ray image of the vasculature.

82 . The system of claim 81 , wherein the at least one computer processor determines the information regarding the at least one coronary measurement by automatically detecting at least one geometric data or dynamic data for at least one artery of the vasculature.

83 . The system of claim 82 , wherein the information includes one or more physiological parameters of the at least one artery.

84 . The system of claim 80 , wherein the at least one computer processor is further configured to determine information regarding physiology from the X-ray image of the vasculature.

85 . The system of claim 80 , wherein the at least one computer processor is configured to determine the information regarding the physiology based on computational fluid dynamics data from at least one artery of the vasculature.