Coronary vasomotion evaluation by three-dimensional reconstruction of intravascular ultrasound images

The aim of this study was to develop a diagnostic and evaluation system for analyzing 3D spaces defined by digitized cross-sectional US images of coronaries to quantify the vasomotion in relation to the morphology of arterial wall. Sequences of echographic images were obtained to have ordered stacks of 2D frames recorded on a VHS videotape. For each image, an automatic lumen edge segmentation is performed, then 3D reconstruction is obtained to evaluate time-dependent lumen and vessel wall modifications. Directly on 3D volumes, dynamic phenomena can be evidenced and quantitative analysis can be performed (e.g., area/hemidiameter variations, projections, sections, `carving', etc.).