Abstract
BackgroundIntravascular ultrasound (IVUS) is a standard imaging modality for identification of plaque formation in the coronary and peripheral arteries. Volumetric three-dimensional (3D) IVUS visualization provides a powerful tool to overcome the limited comprehensive information of 2D IVUS in terms of complex spatial distribution of arterial morphology and acoustic backscatter information. Conventional 3D IVUS techniques provide sub-optimal visualization of arterial morphology or lack acoustic information concerning arterial structure due in part to low quality of image data and the use of pixel-based IVUS image reconstruction algorithms. In the present study, we describe a novel volumetric 3D IVUS reconstruction algorithm to utilize IVUS signal data and a shape-based nonlinear interpolation.MethodsWe developed an algorithm to convert a series of IVUS signal data into a fully volumetric 3D visualization. Intermediary slices between original 2D IVUS slices were generated utilizing the natural cubic spline interpolation to consider the nonlinearity of both vascular structure geometry and acoustic backscatter in the arterial wall. We evaluated differences in image quality between the conventional pixel-based interpolation and the shape-based nonlinear interpolation methods using both virtual vascular phantom data and in vivo IVUS data of a porcine femoral artery. Volumetric 3D IVUS images of the arterial segment reconstructed using the two interpolation methods were compared.ResultsIn vitro validation and in vivo comparative studies with the conventional pixel-based interpolation method demonstrated more robustness of the shape-based nonlinear interpolation algorithm in determining intermediary 2D IVUS slices. Our shape-based nonlinear interpolation demonstrated improved volumetric 3D visualization of the in vivo arterial structure and more realistic acoustic backscatter distribution compared to the conventional pixel-based interpolation method.ConclusionsThis novel 3D IVUS visualization strategy has the potential to improve ultrasound imaging of vascular structure information, particularly atheroma determination. Improved volumetric 3D visualization with accurate acoustic backscatter information can help with ultrasound molecular imaging of atheroma component distribution.
Highlights
Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) is a standard imaging modality for identification of plaque formation in the coronary and peripheral arteries
We describe an improved 3D IVUS algorithm using IVUS signal data and a shape-based nonlinear interpolation method to generate intermediary slices between the original 2D IVUS slices and create volumetric 3D IVUS images in an in vivo model
We developed an algorithm to convert a series of IVUS signal data into a fully volumetric 3D visualization (Figure 1)
Summary
Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) is a standard imaging modality for identification of plaque formation in the coronary and peripheral arteries. In most IVUS imaging protocols, a series of cross-sectional two-dimensional (2D) IVUS images is recorded along the longitudinal direction while the IVUS catheter is being withdrawn This provides challenges in concurrent evaluation of multiple regions of interest (ROIs) over the arterial structure [3]. The first and most popular method is to generate a pixel-based cut-view image of the artery showing acoustic backscatter information within the arterial wall along the blood flow direction [5]. This method, only creates another 2D image only inside the arterial wall along the longitudinal direction, and cannot provide comprehensive 3D information pertaining to spatial atheroma distribution over the entire arterial structure. Detailed acoustic backscatter information across the arterial wall is discarded with this methodology when surface rendering is performed for 3D visualization
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