Title :
Evaluation of the layered structure of aortic valve cusps using high-frequency ultrasound [bioprosthetic heart valve applications]
Author :
Qiu, Qiang ; Dunmore-Buyze, Joy ; Boughner, Derek R. ; Lacefield, James C.
Author_Institution :
Robarts Res. Inst., Univ. of Western Ontario, London, Ont., Canada
Abstract :
High-frequency ultrasound techniques are described for estimating the dimensions of the fibrosa, spongiosa, and ventricularis layers in aortic valve cusp specimens. Top flat and bottom hat transformations are applied to enhance the contrast of the layers in B-mode images. A modified discrete dynamic contour deformable model is implemented to detect the layer boundaries. The algorithm is demonstrated via measurements of osmotic swelling of the valve cusp layers produced by submerging the specimens in distilled water.
Keywords :
artificial organs; biomedical ultrasonics; image enhancement; image segmentation; medical image processing; B-mode images; aortic valve cusp layered structure evaluation; bioprosthetic heart valves; bottom hat transformations; contrast enhancement; discrete dynamic contour deformable model; fibrosa layers; high-frequency ultrasound; image segmentation; layer boundary detection; microimaging; morphological filtering; osmotic swelling; spongiosa layers; top hat transformations; ultrasonography; ventricularis layers; Bovine; Deformable models; Filtering; Heart valves; Image segmentation; Mechanical factors; Microscopy; Surgery; Temperature; Ultrasonic imaging;
Conference_Titel :
Ultrasonics Symposium, 2004 IEEE
Print_ISBN :
0-7803-8412-1
DOI :
10.1109/ULTSYM.2004.1417799
