Three-dimensional reconstruction of human coronary and peripheral arteries from images recorded during two-dimensional intravascular ultrasound examination

BACKGROUNDIntravascular ultrasound provides high-resolution images of vascular lumen, plaque, and subjacent structures in the vessel wall; current instrumentation, however, limits the operator to viewing a single, tomographic, two-dimensional image at any one time. Comparative analysis of serial two-dimensional images requires repeated review of the video playback recorded during the two-dimensional examination, followed by a "mind's eye" type of imagined reconstruction.METHODS AND RESULTSComputer-based, automated three-dimensional reconstruction was used to generate a tangible format with which to assess and compare a "stacked" series of two-dimensional images. Three-dimensional representations were prepared from sequential images obtained during intravascular ultrasound examination in 52 patients, 50 of whom were studied before and/or after percutaneous revascularization. Conventional two-dimensional ultrasound images were acquired by means of a systematic, timed pullback of the ultrasound catheter thro...