Maximum Likelihood Motion Estimation in 3D Echocardiography through Non-rigid Registration in Spherical Coordinates

Automated motion tracking of the myocardium from 3D echocardiography provides insight into heart's architecture and function. We present a method for 3D cardiac motion tracking using non-rigid image registration. Our contribution is two-fold. We introduce a new similarity measure derived from a maximum likelihood perspective taking into account physical properties of ultrasound image acquisition and formation. Second, we use envelope-detected 3D echo images in the raw spherical coordinates format, which preserves speckle statistics and represents a compromise between signal detail and data complexity. We derive mechanical measures such as strain and twist, and validate using sonomicrometry in open-chest piglets. The results demonstrate the accuracy and feasibility of our method for studying cardiac motion.

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