Acquisition of 3-D arterial geometries and integration with computational fluid dynamics

Steven J Hammer, Adam Jeays, Paul L Allan, Rod Hose, David Barber, William J Easson, Peter R Hoskins

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

18 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

A system for acquisition of 3-D arterial ultrasound geometries and integration with computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is described. The 3-D ultrasound is based on freehand B-mode imaging with positional information obtained using an optical tracking system. A processing chain was established, allowing acquisition of cardiac-gated 3-D data and segmentation of arterial geometries using a manual method and a semi-automated method, 3D meshing and CFD. The use of CFD allowed visualization of flow streamlines, 2-D velocity contours and 3-D wall shear stress. Three-dimensional positional accuracy was 0.17-1.8 mm, precision was 0.06-0.47 mm and volume accuracy was 4.4-15%. Patients with disease and volunteers were scanned, with data collection from one or more of the carotid bifurcation, femoral bifurcation and abdominal aorta. An initial comparison between a manual segmentation method and a semi-automated method suggested some advantages to the semi-automated method, including reduced operator time and the production of smooth surfaces suitable for CFD, but at the expense of over-smoothing in the diseased region. There were considerable difficulties with artefacts and poor image quality, resulting in 3-D geometry data that was unsuitable for CFD. These artefacts were exacerbated in disease, which may mean that future effort, in the integration of 3-D arterial geometry and CFD for clinical use, may best be served using alternative 3-D imaging modalities such as magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography. (E-mail: [email protected])
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2069-2083
Number of pages15
JournalUltrasound in Medicine and Biology
Volume35
Issue number12
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Dec 2009

Keywords

  • 3-D
  • artery
  • flow-field
  • optical tracking
  • segmentation
  • wall shear stress
  • ultrasound imaging

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