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Three-Dimensional Coronary Angiography (3D-CA) is a novel tool that allows clinicians to view and analyze coronary arteries in three-dimensional format. This will help to find accurate length estimates and to find the optimal viewing angles of a lesion based on the three-dimensional vessel orientation. Various advanced algorithms are incorporated in this 3D processing utility including 3D-RA calibration, ECG phase selection, 2D vessel extraction, and 3D vessel modeling into a utility with optimized workflow and ease-of-use features, which is fully integrated in the environment of the x-ray catheterization lab. After the 3D processing, the 3D vessels can be viewed and manipulated interactively inside the operating room. The TrueView TM map provides a quick overview of gantry angles with optimal visualization of a single or bifurcation lesion. Vessel length measurements can be performed without risk of underestimating a vessel segment due to foreshortening. Vessel cross sectional diameters can also be measured. Unlike traditional, projectionbased quantitative coronary analysis, the additional process of catheter calibration is not needed for diameter measurements. Validation studies show a high reproducibility of the measurements, with little user dependency.

The reconstruction of the contrast agent bolus propagation adds a new dimension to 3D rotational angiography. In this contribution, a non-interactive method for flow reconstruction in three-dimensional vessel structures is presented. It is based on a standard 3D rotational angiography procedure followed by the acquisition of a high-speed projection series with fixed angulation. The bolus propagation information which is calculated from the second series is mapped to the reconstructed volume data set resulting from the 3DRA procedure. Thus, a 4D data set results. Volume rendered images of 4D data sets which have been obtained by applying the flow reconstruction method to several patient data sets are presented. In these images, in addition to the pure static 3D information the contrast agent propagation within the 3D vessel tree is clearly visible.