Device for processing and visualizing data of an electric impedance tomography apparatus for determining and visualizing regional ventilation delays in the lungs

Abstract

A device (10) processes and visualizes EIT data (3) of at least one region of the lungs to determine and visualize ventilation delays in the lungs of a living being. The EIT data (3) are obtained from an electrical impedance tomography apparatus (30). The device makes it possible to visualize regional ventilation delays of the lungs or of regions of the lungs in which the delay exceeds a predefined duration (76) in a joint image (900).

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. § 120 of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15 / 171,439, filed Jun. 2, 2016, which claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 of German Patent Application 10 2015 006 902.0 filed Jun. 4, 2015, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention pertains to a device for processing and visualizing data of an electrical impedance tomography apparatus for determining and visualizing regional ventilation delays in the lungs of a living being. The device according to the present invention makes possible a special form of imaging of lung regions in which ventilation is delayed relative to a comparison variable.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]Devices for electrical impedance tomography have been known from the state of the art and are designed and intended for generating an image, a plurality of images or a conti...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention is about analyzing ventilation in the lungs using a non-invasive method called EIT (electrical impedance tomography). The invention is able to determine the time it takes for air to flow through different regions of the lungs and create a joint image that combines a tidal image (which represents the air flow) with a map of the lungs. This helps to highlight specific regions of the lungs that are of interest. The invention also uses a volume / impedance criterion to determine the timing of the ventilation process in relation to the volume of air in the lungs. This allows for a more accurate analysis of the ventilation process and can be used to diagnose and treat lung diseases.

Problems solved by technology

Further lung-mechanical effects arise, for example, in case of an excessively high ventilation pressure but also in case of an excessively low ventilation pressure so that alveoli are collapsed in some lung regions due to an overexpansion (overdistension, pulmonary emphysema), on the one hand. and, on the other hand, alveoli are collapsed due to an insufficient opening pressure, so that these alveoli are not available for the gas exchange with the blood circulation.

The drawback of this procedure is the use of the fixed threshold value of 40% of the maximum in relation to the impedance curve during the inhalation time, because the delay times determined in this manner are comparable only if the above-mentioned low-flow maneuver is employed.

Continuous monitoring of the course of the RVD index with different settings of the ventilation pressure and of the ventilation pressure curve is not possible in this manner.

Thus, no lung regions with delayed ventilation can be recognized in the state of a “tidal recruitment” from such a phase image alone.

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