title: Interactive automatic fetal head measurements from ultrasound images using multimedia computer technology.
abstract: We have developed a tool to automatically detect inner and outer skull boundaries of a fetal head in ultrasound images. These boundaries are used to measure biparietal diameter (BPD) and head circumference (HC). The algorithm is based on active contour models and takes 32 s on a Sun SparcStation 20/71. A high-performance desktop multimedia system called MediaStation 5000 (MS5000) is used as a model for our future ultrasound subsystem. On the MS5000, the optimized implementation of this algorithm takes 248 ms. The difference (between the computer-measured values on MS5000 and the gold standard) for BPD and HC was 1.43% (sigma = 1.00%) and 1.96% (sigma = 1.96%), respectively. According to our data analysis, no significant differences exist in the BPD and HC measurements made on the MS5000 and those measurements made on the Sun SparcStation 20/71. Reduction in the overall execution time from 32 s to 248 ms will help making this algorithm a practical ultrasound tool for sonographers.
authors.affiliation: Center for Bioengineering University of Washington, Seattle 98195-2500, USA.
authors.forename: S D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Pathak
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Chalana
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D002508:Cephalometry; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development; D005260:Female; D006257:Head / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D011247:Pregnancy; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal