A system for determination of 3D vessel tree centerlines from biplane images

With the increasing number and complexity of therapeutic coronary intervent ions, there is an increasing need for accurate quantitative measurements. T hese interventions and measurements may be facilitated by accurate and repr oducible magnifications and orientations of the vessel structures, specific ally by accurate 3D vascular tree centerlines. A number of methods have bee n proposed to calculate 3D vascular tree centerlines from biplane images. I n general, the calculated magnifications and orientations are accurate to w ithin approximately 1-3% and 2-5 degrees, respectively. Here, we present a complete system for determination of the 3D vessel centerlines from biplane angiograms without the use of a calibration object. Subsequent to indicati on of the vessel centerlines, the imaging geometry and 3D centerlines are c alculated automatically and within approximately 2 min. The system was eval uated in terms of the intra- and inter-user variations of the various calcu lated quantities. The reproducibilities obtained with this system are compa rable to or better than the accuracies and reproducibilities quoted for oth er proposed methods. Based on these results and those reported in earlier s tudies, we believe that this system will provide accurate and reproducible vascular tree centerlines from biplane images while the patient is still on the table, and thereby will facilitate interventions and associated quanti tative analyses of the vasculature.