Tracking transverse 2D ultrasound images of the carotid artery

This paper focuses on tracking transverse 2D ultrasound images as a means to produce a 3D representation of a bifurcating blood vessel in order to provide a foundation for autonomous aneurysm detection and classification, and atherosclerosis/atherosclerotic narrowing detection. In any healthcare system, a means to achieve the goal of automating point of care testing is desirable, especially given that a NHS study shows that 1.5% of men aged 65 studied had aortic diameters of greater than three centimeters [1]. In this paper, a method for creating a 3D representation of the carotid artery, determining and modeling the bifurcation region, and determining a subjects heart rate based on vascular distension in order to provide a foundation for autonomous point of care testing is presented.