Abstract
The growth of balloon and laser angioplasty technology,
and the challenging surgical treatment for
vascular diseases have created a need for three
dimensional (3-D) imaging modalities, for both precise
diagnosis and assessment of therapeutic results.
As an intravascular pathological arterial disease
such as dissecting aneurysm of the aorta (DAA) has
a 3-D morphology, 2-D imaging equipment is not
able to visualize its complicated intravascular volumic
character. A data set of multiple consecutive
2-D echograms has the possibility of reconstructing
a 3-D image. We have developed a 3-D imaging
system for intravascular surface characterization
with short processing time and high fidelity. In this
study, we present the development of this system
for 3-D intravascular surface characterization using
consecutive echographic cross-section images which
were collected transesophageally or percutaneously.
In the case of DAA, the intimal flap and both true
and false lumens were clearly visualized, as well as
the rough surface of the atherosclerotic aorta.
Approximately 10 minutes were required to input
echographic data and then generate one 3-D image
on the CRT display. In conclusion, the reconstructed
images provided superior resolution of the
endovascular surface characteristics with short
processing time.
