A snake model for anatomic M-mode tracking in echocardiography

The use of tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) has allowed to obtain velocity, strain and strain rate parameters in real time and is currently used routinely in the echocardiography lab. For analysis 2D image sequences, profiles are marked on the image, and quantitative time profiles are obtained from them, a procedure known as anatomic M-mode. For correct quantification, the position of the region of interest must be tracked along the sequence. We propose a model for tracking profiles using a dual grey level/TDI acquisition. Curves are tracked on the grey level sequence using an optical flow-based snake model and accurate TDI values are obtained from the tracked curve.