Methods for Evaluating Regional Cardiac Function and Dyssynchrony from a Dynamic Imaging Modality Using Endocardial Motion

C11695: SQUEEZ – New Technique for Cardiac Function Measurement

Novelty:

The current invention is a new quantitative method for measuring regional cardiac function and dyssynchrony from cardiac CT images acquired during routine angiography and myocardial perfusion scans.

Value Proposition:

Current methods to measure cardiac function rely on cardiac wall thickness, thickening, or myocardial strain measurements and need segmentation of both endocardium and epicardium. Numerous algorithms claim to be able to segment epicardium automatically; however the state of the art clinical cardiac segmentation software still rely on manual segmentation, which demands hours of human operator interaction. In addition, some methods rely on measuring the diameter of the left ventricle from a centerline. Such methods are susceptible to through-plane motion and also centerline location, among many other shortcomings. We overcame all of the aforementioned problems by evaluating cardiac contraction on the endocardial surface through tracking the fine anatomical structures on the endocardium. Advantages include:

Technical Details:

Johns Hopkins researchers have developed a method capable of tracking fine anatomical features on the endocardial surface of the left ventricle (LV) using a parameter termed SQUEEZ (‘Stretch Quantifier of Endocardial Engraved Zones’) and thus capable of producing high resolution regional cardiac function maps. A fast 3D method tracks the automatically segmented endocardial surfaces of the LV, reducing the operator interaction to less than 30 seconds with the potential to completely eliminate it. By tracking fine anatomical structures on the endocardial surface, the effective spatial resolution of the algorithm is greatly increased. The true 3D tracking method effectively eliminates the through-plane motion artifacts and the automatic segmentation and tracking of the endocardium eliminates the need for lengthy manual segmentation, or correction of segmentation, of endocardium and epicardium, which exist in current methods.

Looking for Partners:

To develop and commercialize the technology as cardiac function analysis software within an existing module for CT or MRI scanners, or as a standalone cardiac function analysis software package.

Stage of Development:

Pre-clinical

Data Availability:

Animal model studies (pig)

Publications/Associated Cases:

Circ Cardiovasc Imaging. 2012 Mar;5(2):243-50. Epub 2012 Feb 16.