Computer Determines Heart Problems From X-Ray Images

The computer sketches the shape of the heart on the x-ray images, and from the wall motion it determines the heart's condition. Heart contours had to previously been drawn by hand. The new technique appears to be accurate and saves time.

During a cardiac catheterization procedure, radiographs of the coronary arteries and of the left heart chamber are obtained. The condition of the heart can be determined by assessing the wall motion of the ventricle from these images, which is typically done by outlining the contours of the heart chamber at the maximal filling phase of the heart chamber with blood and at the minimal filling phase. From these results, the overall function of the heart can be determined, as well as the regional wall motion.

Sketching the contours of the heart, however, is a time-consuming process, which is also hindered by a large number of variabilities between observers. The researchers, from Leiden University Medical Center (Leiden, The Netherlands), created a statistical model that was then translated into a software application.

After a little interaction from the user with the manual definition of the aorta position and the lowest point of the heart, the computer automatically determines the contours in these two phases of the cardiac cycle. Then, the regional wall motion and the global function of the heart are derived. This information is of great significance for the correct diagnosis by the physicians and is also utilized by the surgeons in cases of bypass operations.

Based on this study, a software application has been developed by Medis Medical Imaging Systems (Leiden, The Netherlands), which also participated in the study.


Related Links:
Leiden University Medical Center
Medis Medical Imaging Systems