A computer-aided analysis system for the quantitative assessment of intravascular ultrasound images

In order to provide quantitative assessment of the artery lumen, a computer-aided analysis system was developed. The area measurements are performed by manual tracing of the boundaries of the intima, media and plaque. The mean diameter of the lumen obtained from ultrasound was compared with the mean diameter measured from X-ray angiography. A good correlation was found in 9 measurements from 3 healthy vessels (r = 0.97, p < 0.0001). In 8 patients, the change in the luminal area between systole and diastole was assessed; the luminal area increased by approximately 6% during the systolic period. From these results, it is concluded that the system is suitable for clinical applications such as the measurement of vascular stenosis, the evaluation of therapeutic intervention and the study of arterial wall compliance