Clinical validation of an algorithm for rapid and accurate automated segmentation of intracoronary optical coherence tomography images

Objectives: The analysis of intracoronary optical coherence tomography (OCT) images is based on manual identification of the lumen contours and relevant structures. However, manual image segmentation is a cumbersome and time-consuming process, subject to significant intra- and inter-observer variability. This study aims to present and validate a fully-automated method for segmentation of intracoronary OCT images. Methods: We studied 20 coronary arteries (mean length = 39.7 ± 10.0 mm) from 20 patients who underwent a clinically-indicated cardiac catheterization. The OCT images (n = 1812) were segmented manually, as well as with a fully-automated approach. A semi-automated variation of the fully-automated algorithm was also applied. Using certain lumen size and lumen shape characteristics, the fully- and semi-automated segmentation algorithms were validated over manual segmentation, which was considered as the gold standard. Results: Linear regression and Bland–Altman analysis demonstrated that both the fully-automated and semiautomated segmentation had a very high agreement with the manual segmentation, with the semi-automated approach being slightly more accurate than the fully-automated method. The fully-automated and semiautomated OCT segmentation reduced the analysis time by more than 97% and 86%, respectively, compared to manual segmentation. Conclusions: In the current work we validated a fully-automated OCT segmentation algorithm, as well as a semiautomated variation of it in an extensive “real-life” dataset of OCT images. The study showed that our algorithm can perform rapid and reliable segmentation of OCT images

A Technological Framework for the Authoring and Presentation of T-learning Courses

Broadcasting interactive learning applications through the digital TV promises to open new pedagogical perspectives, also in a life-long learning perspective, given the wide penetration of the medium. This article proposes an open flexible and composable framework for the development, the delivery and the presentation of t-learning courses in interactive digital TV (iDTV). The framework is divided into two main parts: the production side, where the course is prepared and the client side, where it is presented on iDTV, and where the user can perform the educational interaction. The course production is supported by an ad-hoc designed authoring tool, while the runtime user interaction on iDTV is managed by a multimedia course player providing personalization services and a library of educational and entertainment elements and services. Seven experimental t-learning courses were created by pedagogical experts in several knowledge domains and served as an important test and evaluation bench for the framework, in view of the upcoming extensive end-user testing

Accurate and reproducible reconstruction of coronary arteries and endothelial shear stress calculation using 3D OCT: Comparative study to 3D IVUS and 3D QCA

Background: Geometrically-correct 3D OCT is a new imaging modality with the potential to investigate the association of local hemodynamic microenvironment with OCT-derived high-risk features. We aimed to describe the methodology of 3D OCT and investigate the accuracy, inter- and intra-observer agreement of 3D OCT in reconstructing coronary arteries and calculating ESS, using 3D IVUS and 3D QCA as references. Methods-Results: 35 coronary artery segments derived from 30 patients were reconstructed in 3D space using 3D OCT. 3D OCT was validated against 3D IVUS and 3D QCA. The agreement in artery reconstruction among 3D OCT, 3D IVUS and 3D QCA was assessed in 3-mm-long subsegments using lumen morphometry and ESS parameters. The inter- and intra-observer agreement of 3D OCT, 3D IVUS and 3D QCA were assessed in a representative sample of 61 subsegments (n ¼ 5 arteries). The data processing times for each reconstruction methodology were also calculated. There was a very high agreement between 3D OCT vs. 3D IVUS and 3D OCT vs. 3D QCA in terms of total reconstructed artery length and volume, as well as in terms of segmental morphometric and ESS metrics with mean differences close to zero and narrow limits of agreement (BlandeAltman analysis). 3D OCT exhibited excellent inter- and intra-observer agreement. The analysis time with 3D OCT was significantly lower compared to 3D IVUS. Conclusions: Geometrically-correct 3D OCT is a feasible, accurate and reproducible 3D reconstruction technique that can perform reliable ESS calculations in coronary arteries

Using event representation and semantic enrichment for managing and reviewing emergency incident logs

During an emergency incident, several different log files are created by members of the Emergency Response (ER) per-sonnel to document the emergency events that occur through-out the incident. Managing and reviewing these logs is a crit-ical task for understanding and improving the implemented ER actions. A major challenge arising in this task is the merging of log files that are created by the different members of the ER personnel for the incident under study. Extensive manual effort is necessary to identify critical information, such as person names and locations, in order to align and merge the incoming log entries to make them suitable for review. In this paper, we present the WeKnowIt ER Log Manager (WERL), a web-based application that facilitates the task of ER log merging and management by automatically aligning multiple log files and extracting ER-relevant semantic event information from log entry text. WERL makes use of the representation patterns of Event-Model-F in order to facil-itate information sharing and reuse. Furthermore, WERL enables interactive exploration of the collected log files by means of temporal, location and semantic filters. Prelimi-nary evaluation of WERL by members of the Sheffield City Council Emergency Planning team confirm that the appli-cation provides them with enhanced support during the ER log management and reviewing process

IVUSAngio Tool: A publicly available software for fast and accurate 3D reconstruction of coronary arteries

There is an ongoing research and clinical interest in the development of reliable and easily accessible software for the 3D reconstruction of coronary arteries. In this work, we present the architecture and validation of IVUSAngio Tool, an application which performs fast and accurate 3D reconstruction of the coronary arteries by using intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) and biplane angiography data. The 3D reconstruction is based on the fusion of the detected arterial boundaries in IVUS images with the 3D IVUS catheter path derived from the biplane angiography. The IVUSAngio Tool suite integrates all the intermediate processing and computational steps and provides a user-friendly interface. It also offers additional functionality, such as automatic selection of the end-diastolic IVUS images, semi-automatic and automatic IVUS segmentation, vascular morphometric measurements, graphical visualization of the 3D model and export in a format compatible with other computer-aided design applications. Our software was applied and validated in 31 human coronary arteries yielding quite promising results. Collectively, the use of IVUSAngio Tool significantly reduces the total processing time for 3D coronary reconstruction. IVUSAngio Tool is distributed as free software, publicly available to download and use

Clinical validation of an algorithm for rapid and accurate automated segmentation of intracoronary optical coherence tomography images

Objectives: The analysis of intracoronary optical coherence tomography (OCT) images is based on manual identification of the lumen contours and relevant structures. However, manual image segmentation is a cumbersome and time-consuming process, subject to significant intra-and inter-observer variability. This study aims to present and validate a fully-automated method for segmentation of intracoronary OCT images. Methods: We studied 20 coronary arteries (mean length = 39.7 +/- 10.0 mm) from 20 patients who underwent a clinically-indicated cardiac catheterization. The OCT images (n = 1812) were segmented manually, as well as with a fully-automated approach. A semi-automated variation of the fully-automated algorithm was also applied. Using certain lumen size and lumen shape characteristics, the fully-and semi-automated segmentation algorithms were validated over manual segmentation, which was considered as the gold standard. Results: Linear regression and Bland-Altman analysis demonstrated that both the fully-automated and semi-automated segmentation had a very high agreement with the manual segmentation, with the semi-automated approach being slightly more accurate than the fully-automated method. The fully-automated and semi-automated OCT segmentation reduced the analysis time by more than 97% and 86%, respectively, compared to manual segmentation. Conclusions: In the current work we validated a fully-automated OCT segmentation algorithm, as well as a semi-automated variation of it in an extensive “real-life” dataset of OCT images. The study showed that our algorithm can perform rapid and reliable segmentation of OCT images. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved

Association of global and local low endothelial shear stress with high-risk plaque using intracoronary 3D optical coherence tomography: Introduction of 'shear stress score'

AIMS: The association of low endothelial shear stress (ESS) with high-risk plaque (HRP) has not been thoroughly investigated in humans. We investigated the local ESS and lumen remodelling patterns in HRPs using optical coherence tomography (OCT), developed the shear stress score, and explored its association with the prevalence of HRPs and clinical outcomes. METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 35 coronary arteries from 30 patients with stable angina or acute coronary syndrome (ACS) were reconstructed with three dimensional (3D) OCT. ESS was calculated using computational fluid dynamics and classified into low, moderate, and high in 3-mm-long subsegments. In each subsegment, (i) fibroatheromas (FAs) were classified into HRPs and non-HRPs based on fibrous cap (FC) thickness and lipid pool size, and (ii) lumen remodelling was classified into constrictive, compensatory, and expansive. In each artery the shear stress score was calculated as metric of the extent and severity of low ESS. FAs in low ESS subsegments had thinner FC compared with high ESS (89 ± 84 vs.138 ± 83 µm, P < 0.05). Low ESS subsegments predominantly co-localized with HRPs vs. non-HRPs (29 vs. 9%, P < 0.05) and high ESS subsegments predominantly with non-HRPs (9 vs. 24%, P < 0.05). Compensatory and expansive lumen remodelling were the predominant responses within subsegments with low ESS and HRPs. In non-stenotic FAs, low ESS was associated with HRPs vs. non-HRPs (29 vs. 3%, P < 0.05). Arteries with increased shear stress score had increased frequency of HRPs and were associated with ACS vs. stable angina. CONCLUSION: Local low ESS and expansive lumen remodelling are associated with HRP. Arteries with increased shear stress score have increased frequency of HRPs and propensity to present with ACS

Association of global and local low endothelial shear stress with high-risk plaque using intracoronary 3D optical coherence tomography: Introduction of 'shear stress score'.

AimsThe association of low endothelial shear stress (ESS) with high-risk plaque (HRP) has not been thoroughly investigated in humans. We investigated the local ESS and lumen remodelling patterns in HRPs using optical coherence tomography (OCT), developed the shear stress score, and explored its association with the prevalence of HRPs and clinical outcomes.Methods and resultsA total of 35 coronary arteries from 30 patients with stable angina or acute coronary syndrome (ACS) were reconstructed with three dimensional (3D) OCT. ESS was calculated using computational fluid dynamics and classified into low, moderate, and high in 3-mm-long subsegments. In each subsegment, (i) fibroatheromas (FAs) were classified into HRPs and non-HRPs based on fibrous cap (FC) thickness and lipid pool size, and (ii) lumen remodelling was classified into constrictive, compensatory, and expansive. In each artery the shear stress score was calculated as metric of the extent and severity of low ESS. FAs in low ESS subsegments had thinner FC compared with high ESS (89 ± 84 vs.138 ± 83 µm, P &lt; 0.05). Low ESS subsegments predominantly co-localized with HRPs vs. non-HRPs (29 vs. 9%, P &lt; 0.05) and high ESS subsegments predominantly with non-HRPs (9 vs. 24%, P &lt; 0.05). Compensatory and expansive lumen remodelling were the predominant responses within subsegments with low ESS and HRPs. In non-stenotic FAs, low ESS was associated with HRPs vs. non-HRPs (29 vs. 3%, P &lt; 0.05). Arteries with increased shear stress score had increased frequency of HRPs and were associated with ACS vs. stable angina.ConclusionLocal low ESS and expansive lumen remodelling are associated with HRP. Arteries with increased shear stress score have increased frequency of HRPs and propensity to present with ACS

Association of global and local low endothelial shear stress with high-risk plaque using intracoronary 3D optical coherence tomography: Introduction of `shear stress score&apos;

Aims The association of low endothelial shear stress (ESS) with high-risk plaque (HRP) has not been thoroughly investigated in humans. We investigated the local ESS and lumen remodelling patterns in HRPs using optical coherence tomography (OCT), developed the shear stress score, and explored its association with the prevalence of HRPs and clinical outcomes. Methods and results A total of 35 coronary arteries from 30 patients with stable angina or acute coronary syndrome (ACS) were reconstructed with three dimensional (3D) OCT. ESS was calculated using computational fluid dynamics and classified into low, moderate, and high in 3-mm-long subsegments. In each subsegment, (i) fibroatheromas (FAs) were classified into HRPs and non-HRPs based on fibrous cap (FC) thickness and lipid pool size, and (ii) lumen remodelling was classified into constrictive, compensatory, and expansive. In each artery the shear stress score was calculated as metric of the extent and severity of low ESS. FAs in low ESS subsegments had thinner FC compared with high ESS (89 +/- 84 vs. 138 +/- 83 mu m, P, 0.05). Low ESS subsegments predominantly co-localized with HRPs vs. non-HRPs (29 vs. 9%, P, 0.05) and high ESS subsegments predominantly with non-HRPs (9 vs. 24%, P, 0.05). Compensatory and expansive lumen remodelling were the predominant responses within subsegments with low ESS and HRPs. In non-stenotic FAs, low ESS was associated with HRPs vs. non-HRPs (29 vs. 3%, P, 0.05). Arteries with increased shear stress score had increased frequency of HRPs and were associated with ACS vs. stable angina. Conclusion Local low ESS and expansive lumen remodelling are associated with HRP. Arteries with increased shear stress score have increased frequency of HRPs and propensity to present with ACS