U.S. patent application number 12/891318 was filed with the patent office on 2011-01-20 for living body tissue three-dimensional model and production method therefor.
This patent application is currently assigned to TERUMO CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Hiroshi MISAWA.
Application Number | 20110015530 12/891318 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 41114086 |
Filed Date | 2011-01-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110015530 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
MISAWA; Hiroshi |
January 20, 2011 |
LIVING BODY TISSUE THREE-DIMENSIONAL MODEL AND PRODUCTION METHOD
THEREFOR
Abstract
An internal tissue including a lesion region in the human body
is modeled as a three-dimensional model. By reconstructing
thickness or flexibility of a lumen wall portion including the
lesion region and making it possible to confirm a motion of the
lumen wall or a flow of fluid in the inside of the lumen wall, a
state of the lesion region in the lumen can be confirmed clearly by
visual inspection or the like. As a result, the diagnosis in the
lumen can be made easier.
Inventors: |
MISAWA; Hiroshi;
(Ashigarakami-gun, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BUCHANAN, INGERSOLL & ROONEY PC
POST OFFICE BOX 1404
ALEXANDRIA
VA
22313-1404
US
|
Assignee: |
TERUMO CORPORATION
Shibuya-ku
JP
|
Family ID: |
41114086 |
Appl. No.: |
12/891318 |
Filed: |
September 27, 2010 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
PCT/JP2009/056912 |
Mar 27, 2009 |
|
|
|
12891318 |
|
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
600/481 ; 700/98;
703/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61B 5/0073 20130101;
G06T 2207/10081 20130101; G09B 23/303 20130101; B29C 64/135
20170801; A61B 6/504 20130101; A61B 6/032 20130101; G09B 23/30
20130101; A61B 2034/105 20160201; B29C 64/124 20170801; B29L
2031/7534 20130101; B29C 64/386 20170801; B29C 64/393 20170801;
B29L 2031/753 20130101; B29L 2031/7532 20130101; A61B 2017/00716
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
600/481 ; 703/1;
700/98 |
International
Class: |
A61B 5/02 20060101
A61B005/02; G06G 7/60 20060101 G06G007/60; G06F 19/00 20060101
G06F019/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 28, 2008 |
JP |
2008-086398 |
Mar 28, 2008 |
JP |
2008-086399 |
Mar 28, 2008 |
JP |
2008-086400 |
Mar 28, 2008 |
JP |
2008-086401 |
Claims
1. A living body tissue three-dimensional model comprising a
three-dimensional model of a lumen wall portion of a lumen portion
of an actual living body so the three-dimensional model is a
three-dimensional model of the lumen portion of the actual living
body, the three-dimensional model being configured to reconstruct a
thickness of the lumen wall portion of the lumen portion including
a reconstructed lesion region of the actual living body.
2. The living body tissue three-dimensional model according to
claim 1, wherein the three-dimensional model includes a penetrating
portion for receiving an operation instrument into the
reconstructed lesion region, the penetrating portion being formed
on a side face of the lumen portion.
3. The living body tissue three-dimensional model according to
claim 1, wherein the three-dimensional model is configured from at
least first and second parts connected together, the first and
second parts connected together each including a connecting
portion, the connecting portion of the first part possessing a
lumen and the connecting portion of the second part possessing a
lumen, the connecting portion of the first part at least partially
overlapping the connecting portion of the second part with no
offset between an inside surface of the lumen of the first
connecting part and an inside surface of the lumen of the
second.
4. The living body tissue three-dimensional model according to
claim 1, wherein the lumen portion is a blood vessel.
5. The living body tissue three-dimensional model according to
claim 1, wherein the lesion region is a blood vessel.
6. A method for producing a living body tissue three-dimensional
model comprising: obtaining three-dimensional data of a lesion
region of a living body tissue; producing, based on the
three-dimensional data of the lesion region of the living body
tissue, lesion region tomographic data in which a thickness of a
lumen wall portion of a lumen portion including the lesion region
is reconstructed; and lamination shaping the living body tissue
three-dimensional model using the lesion region tomographic
data.
7. The method according to claim 6, further comprising coupling
tomographic data three-dimensional data to the lesion region to
form a penetrating portion of an operation instrument into a lesion
region which has been reconstructed on a side face or an end face
of the lumen portion.
8. The method according to claim 6, further comprising coupling
three-dimensional data of an overlapping coupling portion with the
lesion region tomographic data so that no offset is provided on a
lumen inside face region in a state in which a coupling portion of
the lumen for coupling the adjacent parts to each other is
coupled.
9. A living body tissue three-dimensional model comprising a
three-dimensional model of an actual living body lumen produced
using tomographic image data of the actual living body lumen so the
three-dimensional living body lumen model is a three-dimensional
model of the actual living body lumen, and a plate extending from a
lumen wall surrounding the lumen of the three-dimensional model so
the plate projects into the lumen.
10. A living body tissue three-dimensional model according to claim
9, further comprising a plurality of plates extending from the
lumen wall surrounding the lumen of the three-dimensional model so
the plurality of plates project into the lumen, the plurality of
plates constituting flow indicating elements.
11. A method for producing the living body tissue three-dimensional
model according to claim 9 comprising shaping the three-dimensional
model using active energy-curing resin based on the tomographic
image data of the living body.
12. A living body tissue three-dimensional model comprising a
three-dimensional model configured as an actual living body lumen
and produced using tomographic image data of the actual living body
lumen so the three-dimensional living body lumen model is a
three-dimensional model of the actual living body lumen in which a
lumen wall surrounds a lumen, the three-dimensional model
comprising means for measuring displacement of the lumen wall
surrounding the lumen in the three-dimensional model, the
displacement being responsive to a pressure variation in the
lumen.
13. The living body tissue three-dimensional model according to
claim 12, wherein the means for measuring displacement comprises
one of: projections positioned on an outer surface of the
three-dimensional model and in a predetermined spaced relationship
from each other; a thin film portion provided on the outer surface
of the three-dimensional model; and a pressure sensing section
comprised of an inner side film portion, an outer side film portion
and a liquid interval portion sandwiched by the inner side film
portion and the outer side film portion, which are provided on the
lumen wall of the three-dimensional model.
14. A method for producing the living body tissue three-dimensional
model according to claim 13 comprising shaping the
three-dimensional model using active energy-curing resin based on
the tomographic image data of the living body.
15. A living body tissue three-dimensional model comprising a
three-dimensional model configured as an actual living body lumen
and produced using tomographic image data of the actual living body
lumen so the three-dimensional living body lumen model is a
three-dimensional model of the actual living body lumen in which a
lumen wall surrounds a lumen, the three-dimensional model being
formed of a hardened active energy-curing resin formed by
energy-curing liquid-state active energy-curing resin, the
three-dimensional model also comprising a liquid-state compartment
in which the liquid-state active energy-curing resin remains
unhardened and is surrounded by the hardened energy-curing
resin.
16. A method for producing a living body tissue three-dimensional
model comprising: producing tomographic image data of a living
body; using the tomographic image data of the living body to harden
at least a portion of an active liquid-state energy-curing resin to
shape and form a three-dimensional model of the living body tissue
based on the tomographic image data of the living body; and the
hardening of the at least a portion of the active liquid-state
energy-curing resin being performed so that the three-dimensional
model of the living body tissue comprises a liquid-state
compartment in which a portion of the liquid-state active
energy-curing resin remains unhardened and is surrounded by the
hardened resin.
Description
[0001] This application is a continuation of International
Application No. PCT/JP2009/056912 filed on Mar. 27, 2009, and
claims priority to Japanese Application No. 2008-086398 filed on
Mar. 28, 2008, Japanese Application No. 2008-086399 filed on Mar.
28, 2008, Japanese Application No. 2008-086400 filed on Mar. 28,
2008 and Japanese Application No. 2008-086401 filed on Mar. 28,
2008, the entire content of all five of which is incorporated
herein by reference
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present invention generally pertains to a living body
tissue three-dimensional model and method for producing such a
three-dimensional model. More specifically, the invention here
relates to a living body tissue three-dimensional model and method
for producing such a three-dimensional model having particularly
useful application to reconstruct living body tissue having a
lesion region inside a human body.
BACKGROUND DISCUSSION
[0003] A three-dimensional model for reconstructing a living body
tissue inside a human body has been proposed in which tomographic
image information is obtained utilizing data of X-ray CT or data of
MRI using a contrast medium and then a living body tissue is
reconstructed based on three-dimensional data obtained from the
tomographic image information. The following patent documents,
identified as Patent Documents 1 to 4, disclose examples. [0004]
Patent Document 1--Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei 8-1874 [0005]
Patent Document 2--Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2006-343434 [0006]
Patent Document 3--Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei 5-11689 [0007]
Patent Document 4--Japanese Patent No. 3613568
[0008] When the presence of a lesion region appearing in a living
body tissue of the living body, particularly a lesion region inside
the human body, is confirmed and treatment of the lesion region is
investigated, it is impossible for a doctor to diagnose the lesion
region while directly visually inspecting the lesion region.
Therefore, if a living body tissue three-dimensional model of a
lesion region inside a human body can be reconstructed and
presented, this has high effectiveness as a tool for carrying out
suitable treatment.
[0009] With respect to a living body tissue having a bore or lumen
such as a blood vessel, diagnosis and treatment of a lesion region
also can be carried out by passing an operation instrument such as
a catheter into the bore or lumen. There would thus be a relatively
high practical use for being able to reconstruct a
three-dimensional model of a living body tissue in which a lesion
region appears.
[0010] Regarding a living body tissue having a tube-like lumen such
as a blood vessel, if the manner of fluid flow such as blood flow
in a lumen can be found utilizing a three-dimensional model, this
would be effective to confirm a function of a living body
tissue.
[0011] Living body tissue having a tube-like lumen such as a blood
vessel, where the pressure of fluid, for example, blood, which
passes in a lumen varies, a living body tissue expands and
contracts. If the pressure in the lumen becomes excessively high as
a result of insertion of a manipulation instrument into a lumen or
expansion or the like of a manipulation instrument in a lumen, it
is possible that a lesion region of the living body tissue may
experience or undergo an improper movement causing, for example, a
rupture.
[0012] In this regard, identifying movement of a living body tissue
reconstructed by a reconstruction structure model is not provided
in the past, and the existing techniques are thus still
insufficient as a living body tissue model. Where, for example, a
method of hardening light-curing resin using light generated from
three-dimensional data is used as a method of reconstructing a
living body tissue based on three-dimensional data in the past,
since the living body tissue three-dimensional model is
reconstructed by hardening active energy-curing resin, it has
rigidity higher than that of a living body tissue and therefore is
lacking in flexibility. Therefore, the living body tissue
three-dimensional model does not reconstruct the flexibility of
living body tissue, and enhancement of a function as an operation
maneuver simulator such as to confirm compatibility with a stent or
stent graft is desirable or demanded.
SUMMARY
[0013] The disclosure here contemplates a living body tissue
three-dimensional model and production method which make it
possible to appropriately reconstruct a lumen portion including a
lesion region, make it possible to confirm fluid flow in a lumen in
a living body tissue which has the lumen, by visual inspection, or
make it possible to grasp, when pressure in a lumen varies, a
variation of a region of a living body tissue which occurs in
response to the variation of the pressure or else make it possible
to produce a living body tissue three-dimensional model so as to
have flexibility using hardened resin of active energy-curing
resin.
[0014] According to one aspect, a living body tissue
three-dimensional model includes a three-dimensional model of a
lumen wall portion of a lumen portion of an actual living body so
the three-dimensional model is a three-dimensional model of the
lumen portion of the actual living body. The three-dimensional
model is configured to possess or reconstruct the thickness of the
lumen wall portion of the lumen portion including a reconstructed
lesion region of the actual living body
[0015] The living body tissue three-dimensional model may be
configured such that a living body lumen model produced based on
tomographic image data of a living body has a projecting plate
(thin plate) extending from a lumen wall toward a lumen.
[0016] The living body tissue three-dimensional model can also be
configured such that pressure in a lumen surrounded by a lumen wall
in a living body model produced based on tomographic image data of
a living body is measured through displacement in response to a
variation of the pressure in the lumen. The measurement can occur
with a measuring structure provided on the lumen wall.
[0017] The living body tissue three-dimensional model can
additionally be configured such that a living body model produced
by hardening liquid-state active energy-curing resin based on
tomographic image data of a living body has a liquid-state
compartment in which the active energy-curing resin remains
unhardened and is surrounded by the hardened resin.
[0018] With the three-dimensional model and method disclosed here,
the thickness of the lumen wall portion including the lesion region
of the actual living body is reconstructed and so the state of the
lesion region in the lumen can be visually inspected clearly. As a
result, the diagnosis in the lumen can be carried out more easily.
Also, the plate projecting from the lumen wall toward the lumen
allows the flowing manner of fluid which flows in the lumen to be
confirmed by visually inspecting movement of the plate which moves
so as to correspond to the flowing manner of the fluid.
[0019] The lumen wall surrounding the lumen is produced based on
tomographic image data of a living body, and the measuring
structure is formed on the lumen wall such that pressure in the
lumen is measured through displacement which occurs with the
measuring structure. This thus allows motion which occurs with the
lumen wall by a variation of the pressure in the lumen to be
measured with relative certainty.
[0020] Because the living body model of the actual living body
tissue is produced by carrying out a hardening process of active
energy-curing resin, it is possible to provide the unhardened
liquid-state compartment enclosed in the hardened resin, and so a
living body image main model of a soft touch can be obtained.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES
[0021] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a living body tissue
three-dimensional model production system according to an
embodiment disclosed here.
[0022] FIG. 2 is a flow chart illustrating a portion of the shaping
data production processing procedure performed by the image data
processing apparatus in FIG. 1.
[0023] FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating a portion of the shaping
data production processing procedure performed by the image data
processing apparatus in FIG. 1.
[0024] FIGS. 4A-4C are cross-sectional views showing front vertical
sectional data D21, side vertical sectional data D31 and horizontal
sectional data D11 respectively regarding upper stage tomographic
data.
[0025] FIGS. 5A-5C are cross-sectional views showing intermediate
shaping image data of the upper stage tomographic data in FIG.
4.
[0026] FIGS. 6A-6C are cross-sectional views showing front vertical
sectional data, side vertical sectional data and middle stage
tomographic data of middle stage tomographic respectively.
[0027] FIGS. 7A-7C are cross-sectional views showing intermediate
shaping image data in FIG. 6.
[0028] FIGS. 8A-8C are cross-sectional views showing front vertical
sectional data, side vertical section data and horizontal sectional
data of lower stage tomographic data respectively.
[0029] FIGS. 9A-9C are cross-sectional views showing intermediate
shaping image data in FIG. 8.
[0030] FIG. 10 is a schematic view illustrating a process where a
thrombus exists in an aortic aneurysm.
[0031] FIG. 11 is a side elevational view showing a produced
three-dimensional model.
[0032] FIG. 12 is a schematic view illustrating a process of image
data where an aorta dissociation is found.
[0033] FIG. 13 is a schematic view illustrating a process of image
data where bifurcation of a blood vessel is found.
[0034] FIG. 14 is a schematic view illustrating an image process
where a blood vessel which should not originally exist is
found.
[0035] FIG. 15 is a side elevational view illustrating a
three-dimensional model which is configured so that an operation
instrument can be inserted.
[0036] FIG. 16 is a side elevational view showing an insertion port
in FIG. 15.
[0037] FIG. 17 is sectional views showing a configuration of a
connection end portion in FIG. 15.
[0038] FIG. 18 is a partial sectional view showing a
three-dimensional model wherein a flow indicating element projects
from a lumen wall.
[0039] FIG. 19 is a schematic view illustrating a case wherein a
flow indicating element is applied where a thrombus exists in an
aortic aneurysm.
[0040] FIG. 20 is a perspective view showing a motion detection
section provided on a three-dimensional model.
[0041] FIG. 21 is a perspective view showing the motion detection
section as viewed from a different direction from that in FIG.
20.
[0042] FIG. 22 is schematic views illustrating motion detection
operation by a motion detecting protrusion.
[0043] FIG. 23 is schematic views illustrating motion detection
operation by a distortion detection element.
[0044] FIG. 24 is schematic views illustrating motion detection
operation by a pressure sensing mechanism.
[0045] FIG. 25 is schematic views illustrating a formation process
of a liquid-state compartment.
[0046] FIG. 26 is a side elevational view showing an embodiment
applied to a three-dimensional model of an aorta wherein a thrombus
exists in an aortic aneurysm.
[0047] FIG. 27 is a sectional view showing a horizontal sectional
structure in FIG. 26.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0048] (1) Living body tissue three-dimensional model production
system FIG. 1 illustrates a living body tissue three-dimensional
model production system 1. The living body tissue three-dimensional
model production system includes a three-dimensional data
acquisition apparatus 2 which acquires from a subject a
three-dimensional tomographic data S1 of a region including a
living body tissue whose living body tissue three-dimensional model
is to be produced. The acquired data is transferred to an image
data processing apparatus 3 of the living body tissue
three-dimensional model production system.
[0049] In this embodiment, the three-dimensional data acquisition
apparatus 2 is in the form of an X-ray CT apparatus, and acquires
the three-dimensional tomographic data S1 including 100 to 300
tomographic images (300 tomographic images in this example),
obtained by slicing, with a slice width of 1 mm, a lesion region of
an aorta which is a living body tissue, and then supplies the
three-dimensional tomographic data S1 to the image data processing
apparatus 3.
[0050] The image data processing apparatus 3 extracts image data of
a living body tissue region (in the case of the embodiment, a
lesion region of an aorta) to be shaped as a living body tissue
three-dimensional model from the image data for each slice of the
three-dimensional tomographic data S1 and carries out an
interpolation editing process for the extracted image data as the
occasion demands.
[0051] Thus, the image data processing apparatus 3 produces and
supplies tomographic shaping data S2 including planar point data of
multi layers to a three-dimensional model production apparatus 4 of
the living body tissue three-dimensional model production
system.
[0052] In this embodiment, the three-dimensional model production
apparatus 4 is comprised of an optical shaping apparatus, and
irradiates ultraviolet laser light on a liquid surface of
liquid-state light-curing resin at a position of the point data for
each slice of the tomographic shaping data S2 to harden the resin
slices in a predetermined thickness for each slice and laminates
the hardened light-curing resin for each slice of the tomographic
shaping data S2 to form a three-dimensional model 5 wherein the
hardened slices are connected three-dimensionally.
[0053] Here, as the three-dimensional model production apparatus 4,
for example, an optical shaping apparatus of a lamination pitch
0.05 [mm], CMET Inc., RM-3000, can be applied.
[0054] This optical shaping apparatus repetitively carries out
lamination operation for selectively irradiating ultraviolet laser
light controlled by a computer so that a desired pattern is
obtained on a liquid surface of liquid-state light-curing resin
placed in a container to harden the fluid light-curing resin in a
predetermined thickness and supplying liquid-state resin per one
slice onto the hardened slice and then irradiating ultraviolet
laser light to harden the liquid-state resin similarly as described
above so that a continued hardened slice is obtained.
[0055] As the light-curing resin, a urethane acrylate-based
light-curing resin composition such as disclosed in Japanese Patent
Laid-Open No. Hei 9-169827 can be employed, and a silicon-based
light-curing resin composition such as disclosed in Japanese Patent
Laid-Open No. 2006-2087 can be applied.
[0056] Where a model of a living body tissue other than a bone and
a tooth is to be produced, the above-described resin composition
whose ductility is relatively high while having a relatively low
Young's modulus is low or like resin composition is preferable.
(2) Image Data Processing Apparatus
[0057] The image data processing apparatus 3 carries out an image
process for the three-dimensional tomographic data S1 supplied from
the three-dimensional data acquisition apparatus 2 in accordance
with a shaping data production processing procedure RT0 illustrated
in FIGS. 2 and 3.
[0058] In the case of the present embodiment, the three-dimensional
tomographic data S1 include, as shown as a representative example
by tomographic data at an upper stage portion, a middle stage
portion and a lower stage portion in FIGS. 4, 6 and 8, horizontal
sectional data D11, D12 and D13, front vertical sectional data D21,
D22 and D23 and side vertical sectional data D31, D32, and D33, by
which a living body tissue of an image point at a three-dimensional
position inside the body is represented by the brightness of
luminance (accordingly, by the density of an image).
[0059] Here, the horizontal sectional data D11, D12 and D13 shown
in FIG. 4(C), FIG. 6(C) and FIG. 8(C) represent tomographic data at
a height of a horizontal sectional line L1 shown in the front
vertical sectional data D21, D22 and D23 and the side vertical
sectional data D31, D32 and D33 in FIG. 4(A), FIG. 6(A) and FIG.
8(A), and FIG. 4(B), FIG. 6(B) and FIG. 8(B), respectively.
[0060] Similarly, the front vertical sectional data D21, D22 and
D23 and the side vertical sectional data D31, D32 and D33 in FIG.
4(A), FIG. 6(A) and FIG. 8(A), and FIG. 4(B), FIG. 6(B) and FIG.
8(B) represent vertical sectional data obtained at a position in a
leftward and rightward direction of the human body and a position
in a forward and rearward direction of the human body in accordance
with a side vertical sectional line L3 and a front vertical
sectional line L2 as shown in FIG. 4(C), FIG. 6(C) and FIG. 8(C),
respectively.
[0061] Thus, by performing an appropriate operation designating the
position of the horizontal sectional line L1, front vertical
sectional line L2 and side vertical sectional line L3, the user of
the image data processing apparatus 3 can select tomographic image
data including a region of a living body tissue to be obtained as
the tomographic shaping data S2 from within the tomographic data
supplied as the three-dimensional tomographic data S1 to cause a
display unit of the image data processing apparatus 3 to display
the selected data, and can carry out editing operation (image
process such as deletion, addition, changing or the like of image
data regarding the region of the living body tissue in the image
region designated as a target) for the displayed image data.
[0062] The image data processing apparatus 3 starts the shaping
data production processing procedure RT0 shown in FIG. 2 and
selects, first at step SP1, a tomographic image including a living
body tissue such as a blood vessel, an organ or the like which is a
shaping target (that is, a target) whose living body tissue
three-dimensional model is to be formed in response to the
designation operation by the user from within the three-dimensional
tomographic data S1 and then causes the display unit to display the
selected image on the display unit. Thereafter, at step SP2, the
image data processing apparatus 3 causes the user to confirm
whether or not the shaping target is correctly identified.
[0063] In the case of the present embodiment, the user would move
the horizontal sectional line L1, front vertical sectional line L2
and side vertical sectional line L3 to search for a range of the
tomographic image including the shaping target (for example, an
aorta) inside the human body to identify a processing target region
TG.
[0064] At this time, the image data processing apparatus 3 advances
the processing to step SP3 in response to the designation operation
by the user, and extracts those image data having a luminance the
same as that of the shaping target from the three-dimensional
tomographic data in the processing target region TG including the
shaping target (that is, the target) and then causes the extracted
data to be displayed on the display unit.
[0065] In the case of the present embodiment, taking a lesion
region of an aorta as the target, the processing target region TG
is set in regard to a heightwise range in the upward and downward
direction including the target, a widthwise range in the leftward
and rightward direction and a depthwise range in the forward and
rearward direction, and one slice of the tomographic data which
includes the processing target region TG, for example, the upper
stage tomographic data shown in FIG. 4, is displayed on the display
unit.
[0066] Here, the aorta designated as the target is a tube-formed
living body tissue having a bore in which blood is filled, and,
when the three-dimensional tomographic data S1 is acquired for a
check of the lesion region by the three-dimensional data
acquisition apparatus 2, image pickup is carried out using contrast
medium. Therefore, the three-dimensional tomographic data S1 are
fetched as such image data that the bore of the blood vessel has
relatively light luminance by the image data processing apparatus
3.
[0067] On the other hand, in the horizontal sectional data D11
illustrated in FIG. 4(C), a lumen wall portion of the blood vessel
in the processing target region TG is displayed as image data in
which the lumen wall portion and the other tissue on the outer side
(outwardly) of the lumen wall portion are not clearly distinguished
from each other.
[0068] Therefore, at the next step SP4, the image data processing
apparatus 3 extracts a boundary between the lumen wall portion of
the blood vessel and the tissue on the outer side of the shaping
target in accordance with the operation by the user.
[0069] The extraction operation is carried out while the position
or the shape of the shaping object (that is, the aorta) inside the
body of a healthy person is being assumed or information based on
examples of dissection of patients having the same affection is
being taken into consideration based on anatomical information.
[0070] In fact, when some difference exists in density between a
blood vessel which is an object of extraction and the other organ,
it is decided that an image data portion of a density the same as
that of a lumen wall portion of a blood vessel is a blood vessel
and is cut away from an image of the external tissue to carry out
an extraction operation of the blood vessel along an outer wall of
the shaping object.
[0071] Further, where it is impossible to cut away the blood vessel
from the external tissue only with the horizontal sectional data
D11 of FIG. 4(C), horizontal sectional data above and below the
horizontal sectional data D11 are referred to so that image data
which conform to a flow of a plurality of tomographic images (flow
from an upper position to a lower position or flow from a lower
position to an upper position) are determined as image data of the
shaping object and are cut away from the external tissue.
[0072] Further, once in a while, where the shaping object includes
a lesion region, although there is no difference in density, an
outer shape of the shaping object including the lesion region is
different from that of an organ of an anatomically healthy person.
The outer shape of the lesion region is for example, extraordinary
swollen or extraordinary thin. Therefore, extraction of a boundary
between the object image and the other organ including the
difference is carried out.
[0073] When the extraction process of a boundary between the
shaping object and the other tissue ends, the image data processing
apparatus 3 carries out, at the next step SPS, a process of erasing
the portion other than the shaping object from the processing
target region TG.
[0074] As a result, the image data processing apparatus 3 can
obtain intermediate shaping image data OB1 having an outer shape on
one section of the living body tissue three-dimensional model to be
shaped from the horizontal sectional data D11 as illustrated in
FIG. 5(C) and accumulates the intermediate shaping image data OB1
into the internal memory.
[0075] If the extraction process of the shaping object from such
tomographic data of one tomogram ends, the image data processing
apparatus 3 returns the processing to step SP3 through step SP6
described above so that it repetitively carries out processing of
the process loop involving steps SP3-SP4-SP5-SP6-SP3 similarly for
the tomographic data of a different tomogram from among the
tomographic data of 300 tomograms. By this, the extraction process
of the shaping object is successively carried out for all
tomographic data.
[0076] Thus, by carrying out the extraction process, for example,
for the horizontal sectional data D12 of the middle stage
tomographic data illustrated in FIG. 6(C), such horizontal
sectional data D12 from which intermediate shaping image data OB2
are extracted as illustrated in FIG. 7(C) can be obtained.
[0077] Further, by carrying out the extraction process of the
horizontal sectional data D13 of the lower stage tomographic data
illustrated in FIG. 8(C) in a similar manner, such horizontal
sectional data D13 from which intermediate shaping image data OB3
are extracted as illustrated in FIG. 9(C) can be obtained.
[0078] Once the processing of the tomographic data of all of the
300 tomograms is completed or ends in this manner, the image data
processing apparatus 3 obtains an affirmative result at step SP6
and advances to the processing to step SP7.
[0079] The processing at step SP7 involves using the intermediate
shaping image data (OB1 to OB3) accumulated in the memory of the
image data processing apparatus 3 by the processing at steps
SP3-SP4-SP5-SP6-SP3 to cause the data to be displayed as a
three-dimensional image on the display unit.
[0080] Subsequently to the displaying process of the
three-dimensional image, the image data processing apparatus 3
causes the user, at step SP8, to make a decision regarding whether
or not the shaping object has successfully been extracted
correctly. If it is decided that the extraction from the
tomographic data is not correct, then the processing returns to
step SP3 described above to carry out the extraction process of the
shaping object again.
[0081] On the other hand, if it is decided that the shaping object
has successfully been extracted correctly, then the image data
processing apparatus 3 causes, at next step SP9, the user to make a
decision regarding whether or not the erasure process has
successfully been carried out correctly. If a negative result is
obtained, the processing returns to step SP5 described above, and
the image data processing apparatus 3 carries out, at step SP5
described above, the erasure process of the tomographic data which
is estimated not to have correctly undergone the erasure
process.
[0082] If an affirmative result is obtained at step SP9, the image
data processing apparatus 3 advances the processing to step SP10,
at which it removes noise by a smoothing process to smooth the
surface. Thereafter, at step SP11, the image data processing
apparatus 3 causes the user to make a decision regarding whether or
not all data necessary for clinical processing are prepared. If it
is confirmed that all data are prepared, then the image data
processing apparatus 3 returns the processing to step SP10
described above to carry out the smoothing process again.
[0083] If an affirmative result is obtained at step SP11, this
signifies there is no clinical problem and the image data
processing apparatus 3 then decides at step SP12 whether or not the
shaping object is a blood vessel.
[0084] Here, if a negative result is obtained, the image data
processing apparatus 3 advances the processing to step SP13, at
which it immediately carries out a production process of
tomographic shaping data S2 to be passed to the three-dimensional
model production apparatus 4.
[0085] On the other hand, if an affirmative result is obtained at
step SP12, this signifies that the three-dimensional images which
have been processed till then require a bore, and then the image
data processing apparatus 3 causes, at step SP16, the user to make
a decision regarding whether or not a blood vessel wall is
extracted. If an affirmative result is obtained here, this
signifies that a blood vessel is shaped already as the shaping
object. At this time, the image data processing apparatus 3
advances the processing to step SP13, at which it carries out a
production process of tomographic shaping data S2 having a
bore.
[0086] If the shaping object is a blood vessel which does not have
a lesion region, then since the three-dimensional tomographic data
S1 obtained from the three-dimensional data acquisition apparatus 2
is a result of image pickup using a contrast medium, a lumen wall
portion of a blood vessel surrounds the periphery with an
anatomically fixed wall thickness, and therefore, an affirmative
result is obtained at step SP16.
[0087] On the other hand, if a negative result is obtained at step
SP16 described above, this signifies that the three-dimensional
image produced by the processing till then is not completed as a
blood vessel as yet.
[0088] Therefore, the image data processing apparatus 3 causes the
processing to proceed to step SP17, at which it causes the user to
write image data of a lumen wall of a predetermined wall thickness
regarding the three-dimensional image produced till then and then
displays the three-dimensional image.
[0089] Here, the wall thickness of the blood vessel wall is
determined in accordance with conditions of the blood vessel region
of the shaping object based on the fact that anatomically a thick
blood vessel has a great wall thickness while a thin blood vessel
has a small wall thickness.
[0090] Then, the image data processing apparatus 3 advances the
processing to step SP18, at which it causes the user to make a
decision regarding whether or not the blood vessel has some
collapse or dissociation.
[0091] If a negative result is obtained here, then the image data
processing apparatus 3 corrects the fault at step SP19 and then
returns the processing to step SP18 described above. Consequently,
the image data processing apparatus 3 repeats the correction
process until after the three-dimensional image of the blood vessel
becomes free from any fault.
[0092] Thus, the image data processing apparatus 3 ends the
production process of the tomographic shaping data S2 based on the
three-dimensional tomographic data Si from the three-dimensional
data acquisition apparatus 2 at step SP13 and then sends the
tomographic shaping data S2 to the three-dimensional model
production apparatus 4, which is an optical shaping apparatus, at
step SP14 so that a shaping process is carried out. Consequently,
the shaping data production processing procedure RT0 ends at step
SP15.
(3) Correction Process of Fault
[0093] The following cases are available as the correction process
of a fault at steps SP18-SP19-SP18 of the shaping data production
processing procedure RT0 described above.
(3-1) Case in which Thrombus Exists in Aortic Aneurysm
[0094] When three-dimensional tomographic data S1 which include a
thrombus 13 because an aortic aneurysm 12 appears on an aorta 11 as
shown in FIG. 10 is supplied, the image data processing apparatus 3
extracts, at step SP4 of the shaping data production processing
procedure RT0, a boundary between a shaping object and the other
tissue. Consequently, as three-dimensional tomographic data 15 of
the aorta 11 at the height levels V1, V2, V3 and V4, outer surfaces
11A1, 11A2, 11A3 and 11A4 which are extraordinarily swollen at the
portion of the aortic aneurysm 12 are extracted.
[0095] Then at step SP17 described above, the image data processing
apparatus 3 causes the user to place wall thicknesses of
predetermined lumen walls 11B1, 11B2, 11B3 and 11B4 into the inner
side of the outer surfaces 11A1, 11A2, 11A3 and 11A4 of the aorta
11 and then displays a three-dimensional image of the aorta 11 on
the display unit.
[0096] Here,.,the wall thicknesses of the lumen walls 11B1, 11B2,
11B3 and 11B4 are selectively set to comparatively great
thicknesses because the aorta 11 is a thick blood vessel.
[0097] Further, since blood flow portions 11C1, 11C2, 11C3 and 11C4
of the bore at the lumen walls 11B1, 11B2, 11B3 and 11B4 include a
contrast medium therein, they are filled with image data brighter
than those of the lumen walls 11B1, 11B2, 11B3 and 11B4.
[0098] Therefore, such image data are obtained which represent
that, while the blood flow portions 11C1 and 11C4 at the height
levels V1 and V4 at which the thrombus 13 does not exist contact as
a whole the inner face of the lumen walls 11B1 and 11B4, the blood
flow portions 11C2 and 11C3 at which the thrombus 13 exists do not
contact the lumen walls 11B2 and 11B3 at the thrombus portions 11D2
and 11D3 and an image portion having a density substantially
proximate to the density of the aorta 11 is interposed between
them.
[0099] Thus, when an image process is carried out selecting an
aorta as a shaping object, the image data processing apparatus 3
produces a decision result at step SP18 that the blood vessel has
dissociation.
[0100] Therefore, if, at the fault correction step SP19, the
tomographic shaping data S2 corrected such that the thrombus
portions 11D2 and 11D3 make an image cut away from that of the
lumen walls 11B2 and 11B3 of the aorta 11 are produced, then the
three-dimensional model 5 obtained from the three-dimensional model
production apparatus 4 reconstructs the aorta 11 (which has an
internal structure wherein the thrombus 13 exists in the inside of
the aortic aneurysm 12) having the aortic aneurysm 12 as shown in
FIG. 11.
(3-2) Case where Aorta Dissociation Exits
[0101] In the case in which an aorta 21 which is normal at a height
level V11 according to anatomical information has a swelling 22 at
height levels V12 to V15, if a boundary is extracted between a
shaping object and the other tissue at step SP4 of the shaping data
production processing procedure RT0 from three-dimensional
tomographic data 25 obtained based on the three-dimensional
tomographic data S1 obtained from the three-dimensional data
acquisition apparatus 2, then boundaries 21A1, 21A2, 21A3, 21A4 and
21A5 are obtained.
[0102] Then, when lumen walls 21C1, 21C2, 21C3, 21C4 and 21C5 of
the aorta 11 are inputted at step SP17 described hereinabove, if
double blood vessel walls 21B2, 21B3, 21B4 and 21B5 exist in the
tomographic data at the height levels V12, V13, V14 and V15, then
the image data processing apparatus 3 decides at step SP18 that the
blood vessel has collapse or dissociation. Therefore, at step SP19,
a correction process of the fault is carried out.
[0103] In the case of the present embodiment, it can be confirmed
that the blood flow portions 21D2, 21D3, 21D4 and 21D5 exist
between the double blood vessel walls 21B2, 21B3, 21B4 and 21B5 and
the lumen walls 21C2, 21C3, 21C4 and 21C5, and according to
circumstances, the double blood vessel walls 21B2, 21B3, 21B4 and
21B5 may partly be cut such that they look in such manner as to
hang down like a flap the double blood vessel wall 21B4.
[0104] If such a blood vessel as just described can be confirmed at
step SP18, then a three-dimensional model can be produced by
reconstructing without being lost blood vessel information which
the three-dimensional tomographic data 25 have.
(3-3) Case in which Branch of Blood Vessel Exists
[0105] As shown in FIG. 13, if three-dimensional tomographic data
S1 regarding an aortic arch 31 of the pectoral region are taken in
from the three-dimensional data acquisition apparatus 2, then when
the image data processing apparatus 3 extracts a boundary between a
shaping object and the other tissue at step SP4 of the shaping data
production processing procedure RT0, a boundary 31A1 of a large
elliptical shape is extracted at the height level V22. However, at
the height level V21 higher than the body portion, boundaries 31A2,
31A3 and 31A4 of a small elliptical shape corresponding to a
brachiocephalic artery 32, a left common carotid artery 33 and a
left subclavian artery 34 are extracted and boundaries 31A5 and
31A6 corresponding to two branches are extracted at the height
level V23 on the lower side of the boundary 31A1.
[0106] When such three-dimensional tomographic data 35 of a shaping
object image are obtained, since bright image data exist in the
inside of the boundaries 31A1 to 31A6 due to a contrast medium
included in the blood flows 31B1 to 31B6, the lumen walls 31C1 to
31C6 are extracted. Thus, if it is confirmed at step SP6 described
hereinabove that there is no anatomical contradiction, then an
affirmative result is obtained at step SP16 for deciding whether or
not a blood vessel wall is extracted. Therefore, inputting of a
wall thickness at step SP17 is omitted, and the processing advances
to the shaping data production processing step SP13.
[0107] By the configuration described above, the shaping data
production processing procedure RT0 can be simplified by the
omission of the processing step.
(3-4) Case in which Branch of Blood Vessel which Should not
Originally Exist Exits
[0108] Referring to FIG. 14, an image data process is illustrated
where, in the case wherein a region in which an aorta 42 extends
from the heart 41 is determined as a shaping object, lumen walls
43A, 43B and 43C are obtained as three-dimensional tomographic data
43 on height levels V31, V32 and V33 of the portion of the aorta 42
and a tomographic image 43D is obtained on a height level V34 of
the heart 41 and three-dimensional tomographic data S1 including a
shaping object which includes a bypass blood vessel 44 which should
not anatomically exist are supplied. In this instance, the image
data processing apparatus 3 can extract boundaries 45A, 45B and 45C
on the height levels V31, V32 and V33 by extracting the boundary
between the shaping object and the other tissue at step SP4 of the
shaping data production processing procedure RT0.
[0109] Together with this, the image data processing apparatus 3
extracts a boundary 45D on the height level V34 between the heart
41 as the shaping object and the other tissue at step SP4 of the
shaping data production processing procedure RT0 similarly.
[0110] Here, while, on the height levels V31, V32 and V33, picked
up images of the blood flows 46A, 46B and 46C are obtained on the
inner side of the lumen walls 43A, 43B and 43C, on the height level
V34, data regarding the portion corresponding to the blood flow are
not produced.
[0111] While the process of image data described above is carried
out in accordance with anatomic information, in the case of the
shaping object of FIG. 14, processing of image data regarding the
bypass blood vessel 44 is carried out in addition.
[0112] In other words, the tomographic data on the height level V32
includes a connecting blood vessel portion 47 in regard to a
connecting portion between the aorta 42 and the bypass blood vessel
44.
[0113] Another connecting blood vessel portion 48 is included in a
portion at which the bypass blood vessel 44 is connected to the
heart 41 on the height level V34.
[0114] Furthermore, the three-dimensional tomographic data 43
include a bypass blood vessel portion 49 in the neighborhood of the
lumen wall 43C of the aorta on the height level V33.
[0115] The connecting blood vessel portions 47 and 48 regarding the
bypass blood vessel 44 and the bypass blood vessel portion 49 can
be decided as blood vessels because, although it cannot be
anatomically forecast, that the blood flows 50B and 50C as well as
50D exist in the blood vessel portions is displayed as an image of
the contrast medium.
[0116] Thus, since, as regards the bypass blood vessel 44,
tomographic data of the same in the heightwise direction from the
connecting blood vessel portion 47 to the connecting blood vessel
portion 48 through the bypass blood vessel portion 49 are produced
continuously, the image data processing apparatus 3 decides from
the specificity of the tomographic data that the bypass blood
vessel 44 exists, and carries out an image process of the bypass
blood vessel 44.
(4) Admission Port Member of Surgical Instrument
[0117] The three-dimensional model 5 shown in FIG. 11 is obtained
from the tomographic shaping data S2 produced by the image data
processing apparatus 3 using the three-dimensional model production
apparatus 4 and reconstructs not only the external shape of the
same but also the structure of a bore.
[0118] Therefore, it is highly effective if it is possible to
attempt such a clinical technique as to insert a surgical
instrument for operating a thrombus 13 (FIG. 10) existing in a bore
of the aortic aneurysm 12 utilizing the three-dimensional model to
a position of the aortic aneurysm 12.
[0119] As a tool investigated before such a surgical technique is
carried out clinically, as shown in FIG. 15, three-dimensional
tomographic data S1 of a femoral artery 5Y positioned far away from
the aorta 11 are obtained from the three-dimensional data
acquisition apparatus 2 to produce tomographic shaping data S2
using the shaping data production processing procedure RT0
illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. Then, the tomographic shaping data S2
are processed by the three-dimensional model production apparatus 4
to reconstruct a femoral artery 5Y as a three-dimensional model
5X.
[0120] Here, since the femoral artery 5Y is positioned surgically
in a spaced relationship from the aortic aneurysm 12 of the
three-dimensional model 5, the three-dimensional model 5X is
prepared as a part connecting to a part of the three-dimensional
model 5 separately from the three-dimensional model 5 which
includes the aortic aneurysm 12.
[0121] Thereupon, the image data processing apparatus 3 carries out
a processing operation so that an insertion port member 5Y1 which
reconstructs an insertion port is provided on the three-dimensional
model 5X in a corresponding relationship to the position of a
femoral region at which the insertion port is provided in order to
clinically insert a catheter into a femoral artery to feed into the
aortic aneurysm. The insertion port member 5Y1 which is used
clinically has a configuration shown in FIG. 16.
[0122] The insertion port member 5Y1 has an insertion port body 5Y2
having a generally cylindrical shape, and a communicating opening
5Y4 communicating with a bore of the femoral artery is cut away at
a side portion of an attaching side end portion 5Y3 to the femoral
artery. Consequently, the insertion port member 5Y1 is attached
obliquely to the communicating opening 5Y4 such that it extends
along the femoral artery.
[0123] Thus, a catheter is inserted into an opening of a circular
sectional shape of a catheter insertion side end portion 5Y5, and a
distal end of the catheter is inserted into the femoral artery
through the communicating opening 5Y4.
[0124] Here, since the technique of inserting a catheter after the
insertion port member 5Y1 is attached is carried out as a series of
operations, it is made possible to attempt an insertion operation
of a catheter prior to the surgical operation using the
three-dimensional models 5 and 5X with regard to the installation
direction and the installation position with respect to the femoral
artery.
[0125] The three-dimensional model 5X is produced by adding
tomographic data of the insertion port member 5Y1 to tomographic
data produced by the image data processing apparatus 3 executing
the shaping data production processing procedure RT0 of FIGS. 2 and
3 with regard to the three-dimensional tomographic data S1 obtained
from the femoral region by the three-dimensional data acquisition
apparatus 2.
[0126] At a connecting end portion 5A of the three-dimensional
model 5 to the three-dimensional model 5X which are formed as
different parts from each other, a fitting portion 5A1 configured
as a cylindrical recessed portion is formed, and a circumferential
line portion of the connecting end portion 5A is cut in a thick
portion of a lumen wall 5A2.
[0127] In contrast, a projection 5X2 configured as a cylindrical
projection is formed on the connecting end portion 5X1 of the
three-dimensional model 5X, and a circumferential portion of the
projection 5X2 is configured such that an outer circumferential
portion of a thick portion of a lumen wall 5X3 is cut away. A bore
5A3 of the connecting end portion 5A of the three-dimensional model
5 and a bore 5X4 of a connecting end portion 5X1 of the
three-dimensional model 5X have inner diameters equal to each
other.
[0128] As shown in FIG. 17(B), the projection 5X2 is configured
such that it can be fitted in the fitting portion 5A1 without play,
and when a catheter as a surgical instrument inserted in the bore
5X4 of the three-dimensional model 5X passes the boundary of the
fitting portion 5A1 from the projection 5X2, since no offset exists
at the boundary, the distal end of the catheter can move from the
bore 5X4 of the connecting end portion 5X1 to the bore 5A3 of the
connecting end portion 5A.
[0129] Thus, a three-dimensional model having a bore structure the
same as a clinical bore structure from the aortic aneurysm 12 to
the insertion port member 5Y1 of the femoral artery 5Y positioned
in a spaced relationship from the aortic aneurysm 12 is
reconstructed by connecting the three-dimensional models 5 and 5X
which are different parts from each other. By this, the catheter
insertion technique from the insertion port member 5Y1 can be
attempted prior to carrying out the same in actual clinic use.
[0130] As a result, if the installation position or the
installation angle of the insertion port member 5Y1 is
inappropriate from the appearance position of an aortic aneurysm in
the bore of the aorta 11, this can be confirmed in advance.
Thereupon, if a plurality of three-dimensional models 5X which are
different in the installation position and the installation angle
in accordance with different conditions are prepared in advance and
one of them is connected to the connecting end portion 5A of the
three-dimensional model 5 having the aortic aneurysm 12 through the
connecting end portion 5X1, then further optimum installation
conditions of the insertion port member 5Y1 can be confirmed.
(5) Operation and Effect of the Disclosure
[0131] With the configuration described above, a three-dimensional
model which reconstructs a living body tissue having a bore such as
a blood vessel can be obtained utilizing the fact that the
three-dimensional tomographic data S1 obtained from the
three-dimensional data acquisition apparatus 2 includes image
information of a three-dimensional position in the human body.
[0132] Thus, a three-dimensional model as a tool with which a state
of a tissue in the body including a lesion region or a prior
surgical operation mark can be forecast sufficiently can be
obtained appropriately.
[0133] Together with this, by providing an insertion port member
with which a surgical instrument can be inserted into a blood
vessel on a three-dimensional model, a clinical technique can be
attempted in advance, and consequently, a surgical operation can be
carried out more readily.
(6) Flow Indicator
[0134] Such flow indicating elements 51 as shown in FIG. 18 are
added to a living body tissue having a tube-like lumen, for
example, a blood vessel, in the tomographic shaping data S2
produced by the image data processing apparatus 3 in such a manner
as described hereinabove with reference to FIGS. 10 to 14. The flow
indicating elements 51 are implanted at suitable intervals for
visual observation on a lumen inner face 53 of a lumen wall 52 such
that they project into the bore space.
[0135] In the case of the present embodiment, the flow indicating
elements 51 are small pieces (cantilever pieces) each in the form
of a thin plate and have a flexible thin leg portion 51A and a flow
abutting portion 51B of a greater width formed at an end portion of
the leg portion 51A.
[0136] Thus, when fluid (pseudo fluid corresponding to the blood)
indicated by an arrow mark a flows in a lumen 54 surrounded by the
lumen wall 52 and is brought into abutment with the flow abutting
portion 51B of a flow indicating element 51 projecting from the
lumen inner face 53, since the flow abutting portion 51B is formed
with a greater width, it is acted upon by force from the fluid such
that it is inclined or is turned so as to change the direction.
[0137] Thus, since the flow indicating element 51 changes its state
in response to a manner in which the fluid flowing in the lumen 54
surrounded by the tube-shaped lumen wall 52 flows, by visually
inspecting the variation of the flow indicating elements 51, the
flowing manner of the fluid can be discriminated.
[0138] If this flow indicating element 51 is applied to a case in
which a thrombus exists in an aortic aneurysm described
hereinabove, for example, with reference to FIG. 10, then a flowing
manner of the blood in the aortic aneurysm 12 in which the thrombus
13 exists can be confirmed from a flowing manner of the fluid which
can be visually inspected from the flow indicating elements 51 of
the lumen walls 11B1 and 11B4 in which no thrombus exists and a
flowing manner of the fluid which can be discriminated by visually
inspecting the flow indicating elements 51 of the lumen walls 11B2
and 11B3 in which the thrombus 13 exists as shown in FIG. 19.
[0139] With the configuration described above, since an influence
of the fluid flowing in a lumen surrounded by a lumen wall can be
visually inspected from the flow indicating elements 51 projecting
from the lumen inner face 53 of the lumen wall 52, information for
diagnosis of a relationship between a flowing manner of fluid and a
lesion region can be provided.
[0140] In fact, although the tomographic shaping data S2 including
three-dimensional tomographic data where the flow indicating
elements 51 are projected on the lumen wall 52 are produced as a
three-dimensional model 5 by being supplied from the image data
processing apparatus 3 to the three-dimensional model production
apparatus 4, when the flow indicating elements 51 are produced from
the three-dimensional tomographic data, it is effective to apply an
active energy effectiveness resin as disclosed in Japanese Patent
Laid-Open No. 2006-2087.
[0141] In the embodiment of FIG. 18, the flow indicating elements
51 are shaped such that a flow abutting portion 51B of a greater
width is formed at an end portion (free end portion) of a leg
portion 51A, the shape of the flow indicating element 51 is not
limited to this, but flow indicators of various shapes can be
applied. What is important is that small pieces in the form of a
thin plate project into the lumen 54 of the lumen wall 52 and are
yielded by a flow of fluid a.
(7) Motion Detection of Lumen Wall
(7-1) Detection by Motion Detector
[0142] As described above, the image data processing apparatus 3
can obtain a three-dimensional model 5 by carrying out an image
process of the three-dimensional tomographic data S1 acquired from
the three-dimensional data acquisition apparatus 2 to produce
tomographic shaping data S2 regarding a living body tissue to be
targeted and then supplying the tomographic shaping data S2 to the
three-dimensional model production apparatus 4.
[0143] If such a three-dimensional model 5 as shown in FIGS. 20 and
21 is reconstructed as a three-dimensional model which reconstructs
the aorta 11 including a lesion region of the aortic aneurysm 12 in
which a thrombus 13 exists as described hereinabove with reference
to FIGS. 10 and 11, a motion detection section 62 having a
plurality of motion detecting protrusions 61 arrayed thereon is
provided on an outer surface of the lumen wall 60 of the
three-dimensional model 5. The motion detection section 62
comprising the plurality of motion detecting protrusions 61
constitutes one embodiment of means for detecting movement
(displacement) of the lumen wall to allow measurement of pressure
in the lumen surrounded by the lumen wall (means for measuring
pressure).
[0144] In the case of the present embodiment, on the motion
detection section 62, a plurality of motion detecting protrusions
61 having a cylindrical shape project from the lumen wall 60 of the
aorta 11 and are arrayed such that they have a mutual distance W1
therebetween on an imaginary array line L11 as shown in FIGS. 22(A)
and 22(B).
[0145] In the configuration described above, if pressure is applied
to the lumen surrounded by the lumen wall 60, then the lumen wall
60 is acted upon by internal pressure P1 and swollen outwardly as
shown in FIG. 22(C).
[0146] At this time, the mutual distance W1 between the motion
detecting protrusions 61 which configure the motion detection
section 62 increases to W1X because the outer surface 60A of the
lumen wall 60 moves in a direction in which the distance between
the motion detecting protrusions 61 increases as the lumen wall 60
is swollen in FIG. 22(C)) from the FIG. 22(B) state before the
pressure is applied.
[0147] The variation of the distance between the motion detecting
protrusions 61 corresponds to the degree of swelling of the lumen
wall 60 and accordingly to the magnitude of the internal pressure
P1.
[0148] If the internal pressure P1 is removed in this state, then
since the lumen wall 60 restores its original state, the elongation
of the outer surface 60A disappears and the original mutual
distance W1 is restored.
[0149] With the configuration described above, by visually
inspecting and confirming the variation of the mutual distance W1
of the motion detecting protrusions 61 of the motion detection
section 62 provided on the outer surface 60A of the lumen wall 60,
the user can find a variation of the swelling manner of the lumen
wall 60 and accordingly a variation of the magnitude of the
internal pressure P1.
[0150] Accordingly, where a lesion region also exists on the lumen
wall 60, by observing a variation of the mutual distance W1 of the
motion detecting protrusions 61, movement of the lumen wall 60 with
respect to the internal pressure P1 where the lumen wall 60 has the
lesion region can be grasped.
(7-2) Detection by Distortion Detection Element
[0151] FIG. 23 shows a motion detection section 66 which can detect
distortion applied to the lumen wall 60 as an electric signal by
distortion detection elements 65. The motion detection section 66
comprising the distortion detection elements 65 constitutes another
embodiment of means for detecting movement (displacement) of the
lumen wall to allow measurement of pressure in the lumen surrounded
by the lumen wall (means for measuring pressure).
[0152] In this instance, a plurality of distortion detecting holes
60B are perforated on an imaginary array line L12 on the outer
surface 60A of the lumen wall 60, and the distortion detection
elements 65 are force fitted in the distortion detecting holes 60B
as shown in FIG. 23(C) thereby to configure the motion detection
section 66.
[0153] According to the configuration of FIG. 23, if the pressure
in the lumen surrounded by the lumen wall 60 increases to such a
degree that the lumen wall 60 is swollen even a little, the wall
face of the distortion detecting holes 60B is displaced to reduce
the pressure to the distortion detection elements 65 fitted in the
distortion detecting holes 60B. Consequently, an electric detection
output which varies in response to the applied pressure can be
obtained from the distortion detection elements 65.
[0154] Thus, with the configuration of FIG. 23, such a motion
detection section 66 which can detect the pressure in a lumen as a
quantitative numerical value can be obtained.
(7-3) Detection by Pressure Sensing Mechanism
[0155] FIG. 24 shows a motion detection section 69 which detects a
variation of the pressure in the lumen wall 60 through a pressure
sensing mechanism 70 provided on the lumen wall 60. The motion
detection section 69 constitutes another embodiment of means for
detecting movement (displacement) of the lumen wall to allow
measurement of pressure in the lumen surrounded by the lumen wall
(means for measuring pressure).
[0156] In the case of the present embodiment, when a light curing
process is carried out based on the tomographic shaping data S2 by
the three-dimensional model production apparatus 4 (FIG. 1), the
lumen wall 60 forms unhardened portions 60E in which the light
curing resin remains in the form of liquid without being
light-cured in a hardened portion 60D in which the light curing
resin is light-cured as shown in FIG. 24(B). That is, following the
energy curing, portions of the liquid-state energy-curing resin do
not cure and do not harden, and those portions form the unhardened
(liquid-state) portions 60E of the lumen wall 60.
[0157] In the case of the present embodiment, the hardened portion
60D has a configuration wherein a plurality of unhardened portions
60E having a rectangular shape in horizontal section and having a
small thickness in vertical section are arrayed on an imaginary
array line L13. By virtue of this construction, flexible portions
60C are formed in which the unhardened portions 60E are sandwiched
by thin hardened plate portions 60F and 60G on the upper side and
lower side positions.
[0158] Thus, while, at any other portion of the lumen wall 60 than
the portions at which the unhardened portions 60E are formed, the
lumen wall 60 has rigidity as an original light curing resin, at
the portions at which the unhardened portions 60E are formed, the
unhardened portions 60E which are intervals of the unhardened
liquid-state light curing resin are supported by the thin hardened
plate portions 60F and 60G. Therefore, this configuration portion
forms a pressure sensing mechanism 70 which reacts with a variation
of the pressure in the lumen.
[0159] This pressure sensing mechanism 70 reacts in such a manner
that, if the pressure in the lumen surrounded by the lumen wall 60
becomes high, then the hardened plate portions 60F and 60G are
displaced so as to move to the outer side together with the
unhardened portions 60E.
[0160] In the case of the embodiment in FIG. 24(C), a displacement
detection section 71 which utilizes such displacement operation of
the pressure sensing mechanism 70 as just described so that
detection light emitted from a light emitting element 71A is
reflected by the surface of the outer side hardened plate portion
60F and received by a light receiving element 71B to detect the
displacement operation of the pressure sensing mechanism 70.
[0161] Further, in the case of FIG. 24(D), a displacement detection
section 72 is provided such that, when the pressure sensing
mechanism 70 carries out displacement movement by the pressure in
the lumen in a state in which a contact element 72C provided at an
end of a pressure sensing plate 72B projecting from a detector body
72A contacts the hardened plate portion 60F on the outer side, the
pressure sensing plate 72B is pushed up by the displacement
movement thereby to output a detection output corresponding to the
pushup amount from the detector body 72A.
[0162] With the configuration of FIG. 24, since the pressure
sensing mechanism 70 which carries out displacement operation to
the outer side in response to the pressure in the lumen surrounded
by the lumen wall 60 is configured by providing the unhardened
portions 60E which are liquid-state intervals in which the resin is
not light-hardened in the lumen wall 60, the motion detection
section 69 by which it is possible to obtain the shift amount of
the pressure sensing mechanism 70, and accordingly a displacement
detection output corresponding to the pressure in the lumen, can be
effected.
[0163] Further, since, also where the lumen wall 60 having high
rigidity is configured as the three-dimensional model 5, a
detection output corresponding to the variation of the pressure in
the inside of the lumen can be obtained, effective information to
investigate the movement of the lumen wall can be obtained with
regard to a living body tissue including a lesion region which can
be detected by reconstructing the living body tissue.
(8) Formation Process of Liquid-State Interval
[0164] When the tomographic shaping data S2 for allowing the image
data processing apparatus 3 to reconstruct a living body tissue is
supplied to the three-dimensional model production apparatus 4 in
the manner described above, the three-dimensional model production
apparatus 4 carries out a process to form, while liquid-state
compartments 81 are left in the inside of a living body tissue
region 80 which does not make a bore from within a living body
tissue to be targeted, solid-state curing resin 82 in the other
region.
[0165] In the case of the present embodiment, a configuration is
adopted such that the liquid-state compartments 81 in the form of a
disk are arrayed on an imaginary array line L14 of the living body
tissue region 80 and, in the liquid-state compartments 81, the
liquid resin material is left without carrying out a hardening
process of the liquid-state active energy curing resin thereby to
enclose the liquid-state compartments 81 in the solid-state curing
resin 82.
[0166] Thus, as described hereinabove with reference to FIGS. 10
and 11, such a three-dimensional model 5 that a thrombus 13 exists
in an aortic aneurysm 12 as a lesion region of an aorta 11 is
formed as a three-dimensional model 5 configured such that, as the
portions of the lumen wall 83 (11B1 to 11B4 of FIG. 10) or the
thrombus 13, the liquid-state compartments 81 are enclosed in the
solid-state curing resin 82.
[0167] If a horizontal sectional face of the three-dimensional
model 5 is shown, then regarding not only the lumen wall 83 but
also the thrombus 13 appearing on the inner side of the aortic
aneurysm 12, a soft living body tissue is produced by the
configuration wherein the liquid-state compartments 81 are enclosed
in the solid-state curing resin 82 which forms the lumen wall
83.
[0168] With the configuration described above, when the
three-dimensional model 5 in which a living body tissue is
reconstructed by the three-dimensional model production apparatus 4
based on the tomographic shaping data S2 produced by the image data
processing apparatus 3, the liquid-state compartments 81 in which
the resin remains in the form of liquid without being light-cured
are enclosed in the solid-state curing resin 82 in a light-cured
state. Therefore, the outer surface of the lumen wall 83 of the
three-dimensional model 5 presents a soft touch as the liquid-state
compartments 81 are enclosed.
[0169] Accordingly, when the user touches the three-dimensional
model 5, since the three-dimensional model 5 has flexibility
proximate to that of a living body tissue inside the body, even if
the three-dimensional model 5 is used as an operation technique
simulator of compatibility confirmation with a stent graft or a
stent and so forth, detailed survey of the three-dimensional model
5 can be carried out without causing the user to feel an
uncomfortable feeling.
[0170] Set forth below is a listing and associated description of
reference numerals illustrated in the drawing figures.
[0171] 1 . . . Living Body Tissue Three-Dimensional Model
Production System
[0172] 2 . . . Three-Dimensional Data Acquisition Apparatus
[0173] 3 . . . Image Data Processing Apparatus
[0174] 4 . . . Three-Dimensional Model Production Apparatus
[0175] 5 . . . Three-Dimensional Model
[0176] 11 . . . Aorta
[0177] 11A-11A4 . . . Outer Surface
[0178] 11B1-11B4 . . . Lumen Wall
[0179] 11C1-11C4 . . . Blood flow Portion
[0180] 11D2-11D3 . . . Thrombus Portion
[0181] 12 . . . Aortic Aneurysm
[0182] 13 . . . Thrombus
[0183] 21 . . . Aorta
[0184] 21A1-21A5 . . . Boundary
[0185] 21B2-21B5 . . . Double Blood Vessel Wall
[0186] 21C1-21C5 . . . Lumen Wall
[0187] 22 . . . Swelling
[0188] 23 . . . Double Blood Vessel Wall
[0189] 31 . . . Aortic Arch of Pectoral Region
[0190] 31A1-31A6 . . . Boundary
[0191] 31B1-31B6 . . . Blood Flow
[0192] 31C1-3106 . . . Lumen Wall
[0193] 32 . . . Brachiocephalic Artery
[0194] 33 . . . Left Common Carotid Artery
[0195] 34 . . . Left Subclavian Artery
[0196] 41 . . . Heart
[0197] 42 . . . Aorta
[0198] 44 . . . Bypass Blood Vessel
[0199] 45A-45D . . . Boundary
[0200] 46A-46C . . . Blood Flow
[0201] 47, 48 . . . Connecting Blood Vessel Portion
[0202] 49 . . . Bypass Blood Vessel Portion
[0203] 50B-50D . . . Blood Flow
[0204] 51 . . . Flow Indicating Element
[0205] 51A . . . Leg Portion\
[0206] 51B . . . Flow Abutting Portion
[0207] 52 . . . Lumen Wall
[0208] 53 . . . Lumen Inner Face
[0209] 54 . . . Lumen
[0210] 60 . . . Lumen Wall
[0211] 60A . . . Outer Surface
[0212] 60B . . . Distortion Detecting Hole
[0213] 60C . . . Flexible Portion
[0214] 60D . . . Hardened Portion
[0215] 60E . . . Unhardened Portion
[0216] 60F, 60G . . . Hardened Plate Portion
[0217] 61 . . . Motion Detecting Protrusion
[0218] 62, 66, 69 . . . Motion Detection Section
[0219] 70 . . . Pressure Sensing Mechanism
[0220] 71 . . . Displacement Detection Section
[0221] 71A . . . Light Emitting Element
[0222] 71B . . . Light Receiving Element
[0223] 72 . . . Displacement Detection Section
[0224] 72A . . . Detector Body
[0225] 72B . . . Pressure Sensing Plate
[0226] 72C . . . Contact Element
[0227] 80 . . . Living Body Tissue Region
[0228] 81 . . . Liquid-State Compartment
[0229] 82 . . . Solid-State Curing Resin Portion
[0230] 83 . . . Lumen Wall
[0231] The three-dimensional model and associated method disclosed
here can be utilized to reconstruct a living body tissue inside the
body having a lesion region. The detailed description above
describes embodiments of the three-dimensional model and associated
method for producing such three-dimensional model. The invention is
not limited, however, to the precise embodiment and variations
described and illustrated above. Various changes, modifications and
equivalents could be effected by one skilled in the art without
departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in
the appended claims. It is expressly intended that all such
changes, modifications and equivalents which fall within the scope
of the claims are embraced by the claims.
* * * * *