Wahle A, Mitchell SC, Ramaswamy SD, Chandran KB, Sonka M:


Visualization of Human Coronary Arteries with Quantification Results from 3-D and 4-D Computational Hemodynamics based upon Virtual Endoscopy.

CVI 2001, in:

Lemke HU, Vannier MW, Inamura K, Farman AG, Doi K (eds):

Computer Assisted Radiology and Surgery (CARS 2001).

Proceedings of the 15th International Congress and Exhibition, Berlin, Excerpta Medica International Congress Series, Elsevier

Volume 1230, Page 877-882, 2001

4-D modeling with preliminary CFD results over a full heart cycle - update of ECG-gated acquisition and CFD analysis, also using the virtual angioscopy approach (Paper) (Images) (Links)

Abstract: Intravascular ultrasound and X-ray angiography are commonly used modalities to assess coronary atherosclerosis. To utilize the full potential of both imaging methods, 3-D and 4-D models of diseased vessel segments are reconstructed by data fusion. These models accurately depict plaque accumulations and stenoses. Especially, they allow geometrically correct quantifications of flow and shear stresses using computational fluid dynamics. This paper outlines the reconstruction of the 3-D model, its extension into 4-D by assigning the image data along the heart cycle, the application of steady-flow computational hemodynamics to obtain local shear stress parameters, and the visualization of the results using platform-independent virtual reality modeling and scripting languages.

In this preliminary study, we have demonstrated the ability to reconstruct the morphologically realistic geometry of the coronary arteries from the fusion of IVUS and angiographic imaging modalities. We now have the ability of reconstruction of the coronary vessel geometry as a function of time in order to delineate the motion of the artery during a cardiac cycle. The virtual angioscopy approach enables a better assessment of the reconstructed and calculated data in a local context, and can be used for didactical purposes as well. Our aim is to use CFD simulation and the computation of wall shear stress distribution in coronary vessels with the inclusion of the vessel distensibility as well as the translation and geometrical changes of the artery during a cardiac cycle in order to correlate the flow induced stresses with the development and growth of atherosclerotic lesions in these vessels.