title: Phase-based registration of multi-view real-time three-dimensional echocardiographic sequences.
abstract: Real time three-dimensional echocardiography opens the possibility of interactive, fast three-dimensional analysis of cardiac anatomy and function. However, at the present time these capabilities cannot be fully exploited due to the low image quality associated to this modality. We propose to increase image quality and information content by combining images acquired from different echocardiographic windows. In this paper, we present an algorithm to register these datasets. Phase-based measures have been proposed as a suitable alternative to intensity-based ones for ultrasound image analysis. The proposed algorithm uses a new cost function, based on local orientation and phase differences, to align the datasets. Visual observation of results, and preliminary numerical analysis, show the robustness and accuracy of this method.
authors.affiliation: Wolfson Medical Vision Laboratory, Department of Engineering Science, University of Oxford, Parks Road, OX1 3PJ Oxford, United Kingdom. vicente@robots.ox.ac.uk
authors.forename: Vicente
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Grau
authors.forename: Harald
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Becher
authors.forename: J Alison
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Noble
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D001185:Artificial Intelligence; D003199:Computer Systems; D019560:Echocardiography, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D010363:Pattern Recognition, Automated / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013382:Subtraction Technique; D014584:User-Computer Interface; D014741:Video Recording / Q000379:methods*