A demonstration of high field-of-view stability in hands-free echocardiography
Abstract Background Exercise stress echocardiography is clinically used to assess cardiovascular diseases. For accurate cardiac evaluation, a stable field-of-view is required. However, transducer orientation and position are difficult to preserve. Hands-free acquisitions might provide more consisten...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2020-05-01
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| Series: | Cardiovascular Ultrasound |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12947-020-00201-6 |
| _version_ | 1828532176980803584 |
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| author | Marloes Sjoerdsma Louis S Fixsen Thijs Schoots Frans N van de Vosse Richard GP Lopata |
| author_facet | Marloes Sjoerdsma Louis S Fixsen Thijs Schoots Frans N van de Vosse Richard GP Lopata |
| author_sort | Marloes Sjoerdsma |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Exercise stress echocardiography is clinically used to assess cardiovascular diseases. For accurate cardiac evaluation, a stable field-of-view is required. However, transducer orientation and position are difficult to preserve. Hands-free acquisitions might provide more consistent and reproducible results. In this study, the field-of-view stability and variability of hands-free acquisitions are objectively quantified in a comparison with manually obtained images, based on image structural and feature similarities. In addition, the feasibility and consistency of hands-free strain imaging is assessed. Methods In twelve healthy males, apical and parasternal images were acquired hands-free, using a fixation device, and manually, during semi-supine exercise sessions. In the final ten seconds of every exercise period, the image structural similarity and cardiac feature consistency were computed using a steerable pyramid employing complex, oriented wavelets. An algorithm discarding images displaying lung artifacts was created. Hands-free strain consistency was analyzed. Results Hands-free acquisitions were possible in 9 of the 12 subjects, whereas manually 10 out of 12 could be imaged. The image structural similarity was significantly improved in the hands-free apical window acquisitions (0.91 versus 0.82), and at least equally good in the parasternal window (0.90 versus 0.82). The change in curvature and orientation of the interventricular septum also appeared to be lower in the hands-free acquisitions. The variability in field-of-view was similar in both acquisitions. Longitudinal, septal strain was shown to be at least as consistent when obtained hands-free compared to manual acquisitions. Conclusions The field-of-view was shown to be more or equally stable and consistent in the hands-free data in comparison to manually obtained images. The variability was similar, thus respiration- and exercise-induced motions were comparable for manual and hands-free acquisitions. Additionally, the feasibility of hands-free strain has been demonstrated. Furthermore, the results suggest the hands-free measurements to be more reproducible, though further analysis is required. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-11T22:49:26Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-aa14d94284e94414a45bfd0d2eab00a3 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1476-7120 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-11T22:49:26Z |
| publishDate | 2020-05-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Cardiovascular Ultrasound |
| spelling | doaj.art-aa14d94284e94414a45bfd0d2eab00a32022-12-22T00:47:30ZengBMCCardiovascular Ultrasound1476-71202020-05-0118111310.1186/s12947-020-00201-6A demonstration of high field-of-view stability in hands-free echocardiographyMarloes Sjoerdsma0Louis S Fixsen1Thijs Schoots2Frans N van de Vosse3Richard GP Lopata4Department of Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of TechnologyDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of TechnologyDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of TechnologyDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of TechnologyDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of TechnologyAbstract Background Exercise stress echocardiography is clinically used to assess cardiovascular diseases. For accurate cardiac evaluation, a stable field-of-view is required. However, transducer orientation and position are difficult to preserve. Hands-free acquisitions might provide more consistent and reproducible results. In this study, the field-of-view stability and variability of hands-free acquisitions are objectively quantified in a comparison with manually obtained images, based on image structural and feature similarities. In addition, the feasibility and consistency of hands-free strain imaging is assessed. Methods In twelve healthy males, apical and parasternal images were acquired hands-free, using a fixation device, and manually, during semi-supine exercise sessions. In the final ten seconds of every exercise period, the image structural similarity and cardiac feature consistency were computed using a steerable pyramid employing complex, oriented wavelets. An algorithm discarding images displaying lung artifacts was created. Hands-free strain consistency was analyzed. Results Hands-free acquisitions were possible in 9 of the 12 subjects, whereas manually 10 out of 12 could be imaged. The image structural similarity was significantly improved in the hands-free apical window acquisitions (0.91 versus 0.82), and at least equally good in the parasternal window (0.90 versus 0.82). The change in curvature and orientation of the interventricular septum also appeared to be lower in the hands-free acquisitions. The variability in field-of-view was similar in both acquisitions. Longitudinal, septal strain was shown to be at least as consistent when obtained hands-free compared to manual acquisitions. Conclusions The field-of-view was shown to be more or equally stable and consistent in the hands-free data in comparison to manually obtained images. The variability was similar, thus respiration- and exercise-induced motions were comparable for manual and hands-free acquisitions. Additionally, the feasibility of hands-free strain has been demonstrated. Furthermore, the results suggest the hands-free measurements to be more reproducible, though further analysis is required.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12947-020-00201-6Hands-freeEchocardiographyWaveletsA-linesField-of-viewStability |
| spellingShingle | Marloes Sjoerdsma Louis S Fixsen Thijs Schoots Frans N van de Vosse Richard GP Lopata A demonstration of high field-of-view stability in hands-free echocardiography Cardiovascular Ultrasound Hands-free Echocardiography Wavelets A-lines Field-of-view Stability |
| title | A demonstration of high field-of-view stability in hands-free echocardiography |
| title_full | A demonstration of high field-of-view stability in hands-free echocardiography |
| title_fullStr | A demonstration of high field-of-view stability in hands-free echocardiography |
| title_full_unstemmed | A demonstration of high field-of-view stability in hands-free echocardiography |
| title_short | A demonstration of high field-of-view stability in hands-free echocardiography |
| title_sort | demonstration of high field of view stability in hands free echocardiography |
| topic | Hands-free Echocardiography Wavelets A-lines Field-of-view Stability |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12947-020-00201-6 |
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