A method for accurate, non-destructive diagnosis of congenital heart defects from heart specimens

International audienceThe accurate analysis of congenital heart defect (CHD) specimens is often difficult and up to now required the opening of the heart. The objective of this study is to define a non-destructive method that allows for the precise analysis of each specimen and its different cardiac components in order to improve classification of the defect and thus provide an indication of underpinning causal mechanisms. We propose a method in which the heart volume is acquired by a CT scanner. ). A new volume manipulation tool was developed to define interactively anatomical landmarks within the heart volumes. These landmarks are then used to estimate the geometrical characteristics of the heart. The relative distances and angles of these elements can be compared to the normal heart and between each specimen within a group of CHD specimens