Automated analysis of cardiovascular images

In order to provide clinically useful information, such as blood flow rates, ventricular function, and three-dimensional motion, images of the vascular system must be analyzed quickly, accurately, and with minimal user interaction. Techniques are being developed with the goal of providing the information while the patient is still on the table. Inspection of the 3-D vascular structure may provide useful information for diagnosis and treatment planning. For determination of the 3-D structures, a technique based on stereoscopic images is used. The measurement of blood flow rates may be useful for evaluation of the functional significance of stenosis, determination of coronary flow reserve, and assessment of interventional procedures. With the advent of ultrasound, ultrafast computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging, images of cross-sectional slices at many levels within the heart can be obtained