title: Automated detection of the arterial inner walls of the common carotid artery based on dynamic B-mode signals.
abstract: In this paper we propose a novel scheme able to automatically detect the intima and adventitia of both near and far walls of the common carotid artery in dynamic B-mode RF (radiofrequency) image sequences, with and without plaques. Via this automated system the lumen diameter changes along the heart cycle can be detected. Three image sequences have been tested and all results are compared to manual tracings made by two professional experts. The average errors for near and far wall detection are 0.058 mm and 0.067 mm, respectively. This system is able to analyze arterial plaques dynamically which is impossible to do manually due to the tremendous human workload involved.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Imaging and Radiological Science, China Medical University, and Department of Neurology, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan. dccheng@mail.cmu.edu.tw
authors.forename: Da-Chuan
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Arno
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schmidt-Trucksäss
authors.forename: Chung-Hsiang
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Shing-Hong
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D017536:Carotid Artery, Common / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D003238:Connective Tissue / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D010363:Pattern Recognition, Automated / Q000379:methods; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D017540:Tunica Media / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods