A Novel Method of Image Segmentation in Intravascular Ultrasound

Abstract The aim of this study is to present a novel segmentation method of the intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) images. The clinical IVUS system was used to acquire in vitro images of the renal arteries taken from autopsy. The laboratory system was constructed to mimic blood pressure variation ex-vivo. A modified threshold method was developed for automatic determination of inner and outer contours the vessel wall. Additional correction was introduced to account for catheter movement during image acquisition. The Langewouster's model was applied to verify vessel geometry determination. The usefulness of the proposed method in the clinical practice is demonstrated using clinical cases