Respiratory motion correction for geometrically correct three-dimensional reconstructions of coronary arteries

By fusing intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) with biplane angiography, geometrically correct three-dimensional (3D) reconstructions of coronary arteries can be produced. Spatio-temporal localization of the IVUS transducer is challenging due to cardiac and respiratory motion. Since cardiac motion can be eliminated via ECG-gating, the aim of this project was to develop a scheme for respiratory motion correction of the 3D transducer path. A model-based technique was used to eliminate respiratory motion in transducer paths reconstructed from biplane angiography in three pullbacks. Although biplane angiography is the current standard, alternate technology for spatio-temporal localization, will potentially allow inexpensive, real-time 3D reconstruction with no ionizing radiation. The model-based respiratory motion correction has the potential to aid in real-time clinical 3D reconstruction of coronary artery anatomy.