Scanning techniques for three-dimensional forward-viewing intravascular ultrasound imaging.

Intravascular ultrasound (US) imaging is a useful tool for assessing arterial disease and aiding treatment procedures. Forward-viewing intravascular US imaging could be of particular use in severely stenosed or totally occluded arteries, where the current side-viewing intravascular US systems are limited by their inability to access the site of interest. In this study, five 3-D forward-viewing intravascular scanning patterns were investigated. The work was carried out using scaled-up vessel phantoms constructed from tissue-mimicking material and a PC-controlled scanning and acquisition system. The scanning patterns were examined and evaluated with regard to the image quality of dense and sparse data sets, the accuracy of quantitative measurements of lumen dimensions and the potential for clinical use. The relative merits and drawbacks of the different patterns are discussed and a preferred scanning pattern is recommended.

[1]  B F Waller,et al.  The eccentric coronary atherosclerotic plaque: Morphologic observations and clinical relevance , 1989, Clinical cardiology.

[2]  C J Slager,et al.  Three-dimensional reconstruction of intracoronary ultrasound images. Rationale, approaches, problems, and directions. , 1994, Circulation.

[3]  B. Waller.  Anatomy, histology, and pathology of the major epicardial coronary arteries relevant to echocardiographic imaging techniques. , 1989, Journal of the American Society of Echocardiography : official publication of the American Society of Echocardiography.

[4]  J W Hunt,et al.  In vitro high resolution intravascular imaging in muscular and elastic arteries. , 1992, Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

[5]  John J. Craig,et al.  Introduction to Robotics Mechanics and Control , 1986 .

[6]  Thomas R. Nelson,et al.  Interactive acquisition, analysis, and visualization of sonographic volume data , 1997, Int. J. Imaging Syst. Technol..

[7]  Mubarak Shah,et al.  A Fast algorithm for active contours and curvature estimation , 1992, CVGIP Image Underst..

[8]  T A Whittingham,et al.  Resolution and information limitations from transducer arrays. , 1991, Physics in medicine and biology.

[9]  Michael J. Vonesh,et al.  Arterial Imaging With a New Forward‐Viewing Intravascular Ultrasound Catheter, II: Three‐Dimensional Reconstruction and Display of Data , 1994, Circulation.

[10]  D H Evans,et al.  An evaluation of the potential and limitations of three-dimensional reconstructions from intravascular ultrasound images. , 1997, Ultrasound in medicine & biology.

[11]  M. Leon,et al.  Impact of preintervention intravascular ultrasound imaging on transcatheter treatment strategies in coronary artery disease. , 1994, The American journal of cardiology.

[12]  R. Erbel,et al.  Intravascular ultrasound imaging of angiographically normal coronary arteries: a prospective study in vivo. , 1994, British heart journal.

[13]  Rodney A. White,et al.  The effect of angulation on intravascular ultrasound imaging observed in vascular phantoms. , 1998 .

[14]  C T Lancée,et al.  Arterial wall characteristics determined by intravascular ultrasound imaging: an in vitro study. , 1989, Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

[15]  G. Maurer,et al.  Geometric accuracy of intravascular ultrasound imaging. , 1992, Journal of the American Society of Echocardiography : official publication of the American Society of Echocardiography.

[16]  K V Ramnarine,et al.  Development of an example flow test object and comparison of five of these test objects, constructed in various laboratories. , 1998, Ultrasonics.

[17]  Christian Barillot,et al.  Multidimensional ultrasonic imaging for cardiology , 1988, Proc. IEEE.

[18]  J. Reiber,et al.  Reliability and reproducibility of automated contour analysis in intravascular ultrasound images of femoropopliteal arteries. , 1998, Ultrasound in medicine & biology.

[19]  J. Waterton,et al.  Three-dimensional freehand ultrasound: image reconstruction and volume analysis. , 1997, Ultrasound in medicine & biology.

[20]  M Amiel,et al.  Artifacts in intravascular ultrasound imaging: analyses and implications. , 1993, Ultrasound in medicine & biology.

[21]  Francesco Prati,et al.  Three dimensional reconstruction of cross sectional intracoronary ultrasound: clinical or research tool? , 1995, British heart journal.

[22]  P R Hoskins,et al.  Techniques for the assessment of the imaging characteristics of intravascular ultrasound scanners. , 1994, The British journal of radiology.

[23]  M. O'Donnell,et al.  Synthetic phased arrays for intraluminal imaging of coronary arteries , 1997, IEEE Transactions on Ultrasonics, Ferroelectrics and Frequency Control.

[24]  N Bom,et al.  Future Directions in Intravascular Ultrasound , 1995, Echocardiography.

[25]  Michael J. Vonesh,et al.  Arterial Imaging With a New Forward‐Viewing Intravascular Ultrasound Catheter, I: Initial Studies , 1994, Circulation.

[26]  F J Pinto,et al.  Intravascular ultrasound imaging of angiographically normal coronary arteries: an in vivo comparison with quantitative angiography. , 1991, Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

[27]  F. Foster,et al.  High-frequency intracoronary ultrasound imaging. , 1997, Seminars in interventional cardiology : SIIC.

[28]  P. Serruys,et al.  Similarities and Differences Between Coronary and Iliofemoral Arteries Related to Intravascular Ultrasound , 1993 .

[29]  G. Stone,et al.  Improved procedural results of coronary angioplasty with intravascular ultrasound-guided balloon sizing: the CLOUT Pilot Trial. Clinical Outcomes With Ultrasound Trial (CLOUT) Investigators. , 1997, Circulation.

[30]  P. Serruys,et al.  The angle of incidence of the ultrasonic beam: a critical factor for the image quality in intravascular ultrasonography. , 1993, American heart journal.

[31]  Max A. Viergever,et al.  Evaluation of Segmentation Algorithms for Intravascular Ultrasound Images , 1996, VBC.