Software Technology - Stan Ackermans Institute - TU/e
Software Technology - Stan Ackermans Institute - TU/e
Software Technology - Stan Ackermans Institute - TU/e
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Challenges<br />
One of the challenges was how to create a solution that<br />
accurately helps clinicians in easily and automatically<br />
diagnosing AAA diseases. To achieve this, parts of existing<br />
software had to be re-used. This raised another challenge:<br />
how to build the new software on the existing one.<br />
Results<br />
The result of the project consists of a prototype which<br />
measures and monitors the AAA geometry based on 3D CTA<br />
and MRI data. The tests performed on the prototype show<br />
that the computation of the geometrical parameters<br />
(which describe the AAA geometry) is accurate. In addition,<br />
recommendations are made for further improvement of<br />
the prototype to allow a useful solution to be offered to<br />
clinicians.<br />
Benefits<br />
Before introducing a product to the market, a prototype<br />
should first be clinically evaluated. The developed proto-<br />
type gives Philips Medical Systems the possibility to show<br />
clinicians an application which measures and monitors<br />
the AAA geometry over time, based on MRI and CTA data.<br />
A clinical evaluation will then show to what extent the<br />
prototype meets the clinicians’ needs.<br />
Iulia-Madalina Iota-Vatafu<br />
Monitoring abdominal aortic<br />
aneurysm geometries<br />
“The prototype software<br />
application that Mada<br />
has developed… perfectly<br />
matches our expectations!<br />
The prototype forms an<br />
excellent basis for future<br />
clinical evaluation and for<br />
potential future product<br />
development.”<br />
M. Breeuwer,<br />
Philips Medical Systems<br />
MeMo – Measurement and Monitoring of abdominal aortic aneurysm geometry using 3D CTA and MRI<br />
Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a relatively common vascular disease and has a significant impact<br />
on peoples’ lives. The aortic aneurysm is one of the main causes of death, mainly in men aged over 55.<br />
The rupture of an aneurysm usually causes immediate death. Timely identification of patients at risk of<br />
AAA rupture can lead to better management of the disease.<br />
Improving diagnosis of vascular diseases<br />
One of the current goals of the Healthcare Informatics business unit of Philips Medical Systems is to<br />
improve the diagnosis of vascular diseases, including AAA disease. At present, an AAA is regularly<br />
monitored using two-dimensional (2D) ultrasound imaging. However the accuracy of ultrasound imaging<br />
is limited. During the last decade, the three-dimensional (3D) imaging techniques Computed Tomographic<br />
Angiography (CTA) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) have become available. These techniques<br />
can allow more accurate measurement of AAAs.<br />
To achieve the goal of improving the diagnosis of an AAA, a prototype AAA geometry measurement and<br />
monitoring tool was designed and implemented. As a proof of concept, a prototype was created which<br />
performs landmark detection (i.e. finding characteristic positions for comparing the AAA geometries),<br />
computation of geometrical parameters, comparison of parameters for two or more AAAs and the<br />
visualisation and reporting of the AAA geometries and associated results.<br />
Measuring and monitoring AAA geometry<br />
The prototype as developed provides a basis for further investigation to improve measurement of the<br />
AAA geometry. It therefore gives Philips Medical Systems the possibility to show clinicians an<br />
application which measures and monitors the AAA geometry over time, based on MRI and CTA data.<br />
A clinical evaluation will have to show to what extent the prototype satisfies the clinicians’ needs.<br />
After successful clinical validation, the prototype may be further developed into a product.<br />
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