Abstract

Two-dimensional echocardiograms of the left ventricle of the heart have been used to produce three-dimensional wire frame reconstructions of the inner wall of the left ventricle chamber. Currently, this process is accomplished by tracing the boundary of the images manually after applying simple image processing algorithms. This manual interaction is a very tedious and time consuming step in the three-dimensional and four-dimensional reconstruction process. It would be desirable to remove as much operator interaction as possible from the process to improve repeatability and decrease throughput time.

This thesis investigated and implemented several basic and novel image processing algorithms which automatically preprocessed the echo images and extracted the boundary information necessary for a reconstruction process. Among the algorithms investigated are common spatial kernel operators such as the Gaussian Convolution Kernel and the Standard Deviation Kernel. Also implemented and discussed are the Robust Automatic Threshold Selector (RATS), a Contour Following Algorithm and a variation of a QUAD-TREE/Pyramid Resolution data structure. Morphological operations of erosion and dilation were applied to give the closing effect necessary in handling boundary dropouts found in some echo images. An effort has been made to utilize the Gould/Deanza image processing system to execute the algorithms in order to take advantage of its unique architecture.

The accuracy of the final sequence of algorithms was tested on actual images and a comparison made between hand drawn borders and the computer generated borders traced on actual echo images.

Publication Date

1-1990

Document Type

Thesis

Student Type

Graduate

Degree Name

Computer Science (MS)

Department, Program, or Center

Computer Science (GCCIS)

Advisor

John Schott

Advisor/Committee Member

Peter Anderson

Advisor/Committee Member

Robert Gayvert

Comments

"I, Rolando Raqueño, request that the Wallace Memorial Library of the Rochester Institute of Technology notify me prior to reproducing this thesis in whole or in part."

Physical copy available from RIT's Wallace Library at RC78.7.D53 R365 1990

Campus

RIT – Main Campus

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