Method for 3D-2D registration of vascular images: Application to 3D contrast agent flow visualization

Abstract

Endovascular image guided interventions involve catheter navigation through the vasculature to the treatment site under guidance of live 2D projection images. During treatment materials are delivered through the catheter that requires information about the blood flow direction, obtained by injecting contrast agent and observing its propagation on the live 2D images. To facilitate navigation and treatment the information from the live 2D images can be superimposed on a 3D vessel tree model, extracted from pre-interventional 3D images. However, the 3D and live 2D images first need to be spatially corresponded by a 3D-2D registration. In this paper, we propose a novel 3D-2D registration method based on matching orientations of 3D vessels' centerlines to the edges of live 2D images. Results indicate that the proposed 3D-2D registration is highly robust and feasible for real-time execution (<1 s). Example of 3D contrast flow visualization also demonstrates the potential for real clinical application. © Springer-Verlag 2013.