A model based method for estimating dimensions and three-dimensional reconstruction of coronary arterial trees from biplane angiograms

Date

1993-08

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Texas Tech University

Abstract

Due to relatively large inter- and intra-observer variability of visual interpretation, computer-aided quantitative analysis of coronary arterial dimensions has been a prominent area of research. Luminal configurations of the stenotic coronary arteries at autopsy reveal that the cross-sections of coronary arteries are usually elliptic or circular. The coronary arteries may be represented and visualized efficiently by a generalized cylinder (GC) model with elliptical cross-sections. By using this model and utilizing quadratic expression of an ellipse, the intensity distribution of an ellipse in any image plane, which is perpendicular to the plane of the arterial cross-section, is computed. A nonlinear parametric model for observed intensity distribution of an arterial cross-section is applied to estimate not only cross-sectional areas but also parameters of the ellipse which are essential in three-dimensional (3-D) reconstruction of an arterial segment. This model takes into account background intensity, noise and blurring. Performance of this model has been tested on computer-generated and actual data for various background types and noise values and compared to those of other methods for estimating arterial dimensions. The computed cross-sectional areas from our model for computer-generated as well as actual data demonstrate much less variability than those reported in recent literature. Furthermore, 3-D reconstruction of arterial segments using an elliptical model from computer-generated and actual biplane angiogram data has shown excellent results. Three-dimensional visualization of arterial trees should provide better information for diagnostic decision and management of cardiac patients.

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Availability

Unrestricted.

Keywords

Coronary arteries -- Models, Diagnostic imaging -- Digital techniques, Coronary arteries -- Measurement

Citation