Automated system for analysing cardiac ultrasound images

Ultrasound echocardiography is a widely used clinical technique, but the images obtained using current technology, are still processed manually with semi-automated methods. In contrast to this, the authors' newly developed system works in an automated way, first obtaining a series of long and short axes views of the heart synchronised by the ECG in real time, then processing them off-line. After detection of the internal edges of the left ventricle, the system determines the short/long axes areas, diameters, calculates the volume of the left ventricle frame by frame and, based on this, the ejection fraction for each cardiac cycle.