New device for accurate acquisition of 3D-intravascular ultrasound data based on real time analysis of arterial blood pressure

• Published in: Ultrasound in medicine & biology Vol. 26; no. SUPPL. 2; p. A59
• Main Authors: Evard, S, Schmauder, M, Orglmeister, R, Gross, C M, Waigand, J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.01.2000
• Subjects: Adaptive algorithms; Blood vessels; Catheters; Digital signal processing; Electronic medical equipment; Hemodynamics; Medical imaging; Remote control; Stepping motors; Ultrasonic transducers
• ISSN: 0301-5629

Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) is a high resolution imaging modality that can provide detailed insight into vessel morphology and pathology. Three-dimensional tomographic image sequences are usually recorded using a motor unit to perform a pullback of the ultrasound transducer at a constant velocity. Quality of 3D-reconstructions based on such data is limited by motion artifacts due to the movement of the vessel walls. In this paper we present a new system for accurate acquisition of IVUS-data with respect to the phase of the cardiac cycle. Different to existing approaches this system analyses the arterial blood pressure signal (ABP). The ABP-signal is always monitored during IVUS examinations and represents the cardiac phase more precise than the ECG-signal. The new system consists of three devices: The central unit based on a digital signal processor (DSP) for signal analysis, motor control and acquisition control, the stepper motor driven catheter positioning system and a hand-held remote control unit. For reliable real time detection of the minimum and maximum values of the ABP-signal we developed a new adaptive algorithm which was implemented on the DSP. This algorithm enables acquisition of systolic and diastolic data during a single pullback of the transducer. That way, additional 3D-information about the elasticity of an examined vessel can be obtained.