COMPUTER AIDED CARDIAC MEASUREMENT

这项研究的目的是开发一种从3D回波图像中快速准确地测量体积和射血分数的方法。我们的计算机辅助测量系统将使用用户在定向超声心动图图像上选择的几个点结合先前的形状和大小知识来重建左室心内膜。第一阶段的具体目标是：1.提高定量回波的准确性，同时最大限度地减少人工劳动。2.提高原型系统在临床环境中应用的易用性。3.通过获取更多的大体积和形状不规则的LV来扩展代表我们知识库的目录，以提高对非典型形状的拟合精度。以前描述的以3D形式分析超声心动图的方法需要如此多的体力劳动，以至于这种方法仅限于研究应用。我们提出的方法的优点是它使3D回波的卓越准确性和重复性可用于临床实践。此外，这一过程也将适用于其他成像方式。建议的商业应用：这项研究将导致产品可以销售给超声心动图系统制造商和最终用户。这些产品将提供准确和方便的数值测量。

The objective of the proposed research is to develop a method for providing fast and accurate measurements of volume and ejection fraction from 3D echo images. Our Computer Aided Measurement System will reconstruct the LV endocardium using a few user selected points on oriented echocardiographic images together with prior shape and size knowledge. The Specific Aims for Phase I are: 1. To improve the accuracy of quantitative echo while minimizing manual labor. 2. To improve the ease of use of the prototype system for application in a clinical setting. 3. To expand the catalog representing our knowledge base by acquiring additional large volume and abnormally shaped LV's in order to enhance fitting accuracy for atypical shapes. Previously described methods of analyzing echocardiograms in 3D require so much manual labor that this modality has been limited to research applications. The advantages of our proposed approach are that it makes the superior accuracy and reproducibility of 3D echo available for clinical practice. Furthermore this process will be applicable to other imaging modalities. PROPOSED COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS: This research will lead to products which can be sold to echocardiography system manufacturers and end users. The products will provide accurate and convenient value measurements.