Computer assisted coronary intervention: 3D reconstruction and determination of optimal views

Abstract

The authors propose a novel method for computer assisted coronary intervention. The 3D coronary arterial tree is first reconstructed based on a pair of angiograms acquired from single-plane or bi-plane systems at arbitrary orientations. With this 3D structure, the views of selected vessel segments with minimal vessel foreshortening and overlapping are determined in the form of a sequence of gantry angulations. A computer simulation confirmed the accuracy of 3D centerline reconstruction to within 2.5% error. To date 3D reconstruction have been completed in 20 RCA, 16 LCA, and 3 bypass grafts. With the proposed technique, coronary sizing can be optimized for lesion length. Practice interventions can be completed in this computer assisted process that should lead to more accurate, efficient, and safe coronary procedure.