Model-based image processing of transmitral Doppler velocity profiles: toward automation

Transmitral Doppler ultrasound has not yet fulfilled its potential as a clinical tool for the noninvasive quantitation of left ventricular diastolic function. In the effort to achieve this goal we have developed a model-based image processing method for quantitative characterization of transmitral Doppler velocity profiles (DVP). The method fits a kinematic model for diastolic filling to the single-valued velocity contour extracted from the DVP image. Improvement of the method includes complete automation of the overall process. Two aspects of automation are examined: data set selection and beat averaging. An algorithm for E-wave (early diastolic filling interval) data selection and three methods for averaging are discussed.