Cardiac Chamber Volume Computation Using Base Plane Intersection
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Solution Overview
Problem
The traditional method for computing cardiac chamber volume from cardiac MR Cine images is imprecise due to difficulties in defining the oblique mitral valve base plane on short axis images.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that utilize processor-based analysis of short and long axis images to determine the base plane from a landmark, intersect it with short axis images, and calculate volume contributions from contours in slices between the base and apex of the cardiac chamber, using an expression that accounts for slice thickness and 3D positions to accurately compute cardiac chamber volume.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the traditional stacking method with fixed thickness is used to compute cardiac chamber volume, then the calculation process is simple, but the measurement precision deteriorates due to imprecision at the oblique mitral valve base plane
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from 2D contour stacking to 3D spatial modeling by defining the base plane in three-dimensional space using anatomical landmarks. The base plane is mathematically represented as a 3D construct that intersects with short axis slices, allowing precise volumetric computation that accounts for the oblique orientation of the mitral valve annulus relative to the imaging plane.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary identification and registration of anatomical landmarks (mitral valve annulus, apex, aortic valve) before volume computation. These landmarks are detected and used to pre-define the base plane orientation and position, which then guides the subsequent intersection calculations with short axis slices, ensuring precision is established before the main volumetric integration occurs.
2Manufacturing precision
If contours are stacked with fixed thickness based on slice parameters, then the computation is straightforward, but the volume accuracy deteriorates at slices intersecting the base plane
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different computational approaches to different spatial regions. Slices that do not intersect the base plane use the standard stacking method with fixed thickness, while slices that do intersect the base plane use a modified approach that accounts for the oblique plane geometry. This localized adaptation ensures high accuracy at the critical base plane region without unnecessarily complicating the computation for other regions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent dynamically adjusts the effective thickness parameter for slices based on their spatial relationship with the base plane. Instead of using a uniform slice thickness for all contours, the method calculates variable thickness values that account for the intersection geometry, thereby improving volumetric accuracy while maintaining computational feasibility through parameter adaptation.
Data Source
AI summary
A system receives cardiac cine MR images consists of multiple slices of the heart over time. A series of short axis images slices are received. Long axis images are also received by the system, wherein a base plane defined by landmark points is detected. An intersection of the base plane with a contour of a heart chamber is determined for a plurality of slices in the short axis image. A volume for each of the contour slices covering the heart chamber, including for contours that are limited by base plane intersections, is evaluated. All slice volumes are summed to determine a total volume of the chamber. In one embodiment the chamber is a left ventricle and the landmark is a mitral valve. An ejection factor is determined.