Real-time automatic boundary detection in echocardiography

Echocardiographic instruments allow for a visual appreciation of the regional and the global anatomy and function of the left ventricle. Quantitative assessment of regional and global function by wall thickening and wall motion necessitates the detection of endocardial and epicardial borders. Real-time methods of echocardiographic edge detection indicate the endocardial corner in real time. The correlation lengths set the independent sample size; the resolution of border location sets the maximum number of usable independent samples. With a closed cavity border, real-time area measurements become feasible. It may be possible with real-time area measurements to assess important diagnostic aspects of regional functions of the heart within selected scanned sections