Meeting Banner
Abstract #1334

Segmentation of Aortic Flow in Real-Time Spiral Phase-Contrast MRI for Assessment of Stroke Volume Variability

Gustavo Maia Queiroz Mendona1, Joao L. A. Carvalho1

1Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Braslia, Braslia, DF, Brazil

Real-time spiral phase contrast MRI is uniquely capable of non-invasively measuring the stroke volume associated with each individual heartbeat. The quality of these measurements depends on how good the segmentation of the interface between aortic wall and lumen is. Such process is hampered by the low-resolution and low-contrast nature of real-time images. Image segmentation using traditional techniques has proven inconsistent. We propose a novel model-based approach, which focuses on separating the aortic flow from neighboring flows, instead of aiming a millimetrically-accurate segmentation of the walllumen interface. This approach is robust, even when this interface is not visually distinguishable.

Abstract PDF

Keywords

able accurate accurately achieve actually adaptively adjust adjusted aorta aortic assessment attempting automatic averaging barycenter becoming block blood bottom bras capable caused centroid combined consistently contour contraction contrast contribute covering decrease defined depends designed deviation diagram dilatation displacement distinguishable electrical engineering error errors especially estimation even evolution excite field filters flow flows focuses frame frames function generally gold good hampered healthy heartbeat highlights inaccurate individual initial instead intensities interface interval iterative lumen manually mask measure measuring medium model morphologic multiplication multiplying nature near neighboring normalized novel operations overall overestimated padding parabolic pass perpendicular pixel pixels poor position prescription process processing profile proposed proven quality radius real reasonably reconstruction requirements resolution robust robustness segmentation segmenting separating seven significantly slice spatial spiral step stops stroke studied studies subjects system systole takes template temporal thesis threshold thresholding track tracking traditional typically underestimation uniquely variability variations velocities velocity version vessel visually volume volunteers wall wise