Biplane analysis of atheromatous coronary arteries

摘要

A method for estimating the three-dimensional (3-D) skeletons andtransverse areas of the lumens of coronary arteries from digital X-rayangiograms is described. The method is based on the use of a 3-Dgeneralized cylinder. The estimates of the transverse areas are based ona nonlinear least-square-error estimation technique described byMarquardt. This method utilizes densitometric profiles, boundaryestimates, and the orientation of the medial axis or skeletons of thearteries in 3-D space. By extending this method to two views, as inbiplane angiography, it is possible to obtain the 3-D skeletons and thetransverse areas of these lumens. The procedure requires little humanintervention