Digital Flashing Tomosynthesis (DFTS) — A technique for three-dimensional coronary angiography

Abstract

Digital Flashing Tomosynthesis (DFTS) represents a technique for three-dimensional (3D) coronary angiography. Four ECG-gated simultaneously flashed X-ray tubes generate a multiperspective digital substraction image as DFTS multiangiogram for 3D reconstruction and visualization. Computerized morphologic and morphometric quantitative analysis can be performed including videodensitometry. Postmortem coronary angiography of 30 human hearts with suspected coronary artery disease was performed by 35-mm cine technique and by DFTS. The results of angiographic measurements in 50 stenotic arterial segments were compared with the histologic reference and show excellent regression results with correlation coefficients of more than 0.95 (p less than or equal to 0.0001). No significant differences in standard errors of estimates between the techniques were found. DFTS yields an accuracy in depiction of the coronary arteries and angiographic estimation of arterial lumen equivalent to 35-mm cineangiography. DFTS images can be directly used for visual interpretation and for computerized morphologic and morphometric quantitative analysis. DFTS technology reduces the amount of radiation exposure, the amount of contrast medium, and the time of the procedure. DFTS offers the possibility to obtain 3D images of the coronary artery tree.

Image quality and localization accuracy in C‐arm tomosynthesis‐guided head and neck surgery

“…Applications in angiography include tomosynthesis imaging of the cerebrovascular system and coronary arteries, 56-58 the latter highlighting the challenge associated with vessel motion and motivating the development of methods for rapid tomographic imaging. 59,60 Dobbins et al [34][35][36] applied tomosynthesis to chest imaging. Respiratory and involuntary organ motion were minimized by imaging under breath-hold, with continuous tube motion and rapid image readout ͑up to 5.8 frames per second͒-e.g., 61 projections acquired in ϳ10 s over a total arc of 16°.…”

Real-time distortion correction of digital X-ray II/TV-systems: an application example for Digital Flashing Tomosynthesis (DFTS)

“…Figure 8A shows a distorted DFTS-image of a postmortem coronary angiography and Fig. 8B the corresponding image after correction, which now can be used for the reconstruction of slices and new synthetic projections inside the recording geometry [8]. The goodness of the distortion correction can be tested on the reconstruction images.…”

“…The method described here for tomosynthesis with great angulations of the X-ray beams with respect to the II also works for conventional digital image-intensified systems with zero angulation geometry. The distortion correction will be useful in all applications requiring precise spatial information, e.g., in the quantification of ventricular ejection fractions and stenotic lesions [8] from digital subtraction angiography. In clinical practice we do not think that there is a necessity to correct images for ejection fraction calculation, but it could possibly benefit from such a correction of pincushin distortion.…”

Digital x-ray tomosynthesis: current state of the art and clinical potential

“…Since its inception, tomosynthesis in a variety of embodiments has been applied to a wealth of clinical imaging tasks, including the following: quantitative analysis of coronary artery stenosis (Becher et al 1983, Stiel et al 1993; coronary angiography (Klotz and Weiss 1976, Woelke et al 1982, Becher et al 1983, Sklebitz and Haendle 1983, Haaker et al 1985a, 1985b, Stiel et al 1989, Sone et al 1991; cerebral angiography (Maravilla et al 1983a, 1983b, Murry and Maravilla 1983, Sone et al 1991, Shigeta et al 1994; digital subtraction angiography (DSA) (Kruger et al 1983, Anderson et al 1984, de Vries et al 1985, Liu et al 1987, Sone et al 1991; dual energy imaging (Liu et al 1987, Sone et al 1991, 1996; urography (Rimkus et al 1989); dental applications (Groenhuis et al 1983, Ruttimann et al 1984, van der Stelt et al 1986a, 1986b, Engelke et al 1992, Vandre et al 1995, 1996, Lauritsch and Harer 1998, Nair et al 1998a, 1998b, Abreu et al 2001; mammography (Niklason et al 1997, Webber et al 1999, Suryanarayanan et al 2000, Wu et al 2003; imaging of the inner e...…”