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Software Technology - Stan Ackermans Institute - TU/e

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14<br />

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 />

15

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