Biplane coronary angiography: accurate quantitative 3-D reconstruction without isocenter

Abstract

Exact knowledge on the morphology of coronary vessel systems is of increasing importance for clinical applications. The quantification of morphologic vessel parameters is an essential aid in diagnosis, therapy planning and verification of surgical results. 3-D reconstruction from biplane angiograms is well suited for these purposes. Most of the present reconstruction systems assume a fixed isocenter, which does not reflect the real conditions. Even if the devices were adjusted by special phantoms, the systems may shift during angulation. Mechanical solutions of this problem would be complex and expensive. Handling the diffuse isocenter problem just by a generalized intersection point cannot deliver sufficient results for quantitative evaluations. In the authors' new approach presented here, they dropped the assumption of a stable isocenter and considered the real mechanical properties of biplane imaging systems.<>