MTF-insensitive algorithm for absolute diameter measurements of coronary arteries

The authors are investigating a new algorithm for the determination of coronary artery dimensions that has a low sensitivity to the modulation transfer function of the imaging system. This algorithm uses the first zero crossing frequency of the Fourier transform of the vessel profile to indicate the vessel size. Measurements of vessel phantoms imaged with blurring aperture sizes extending from 20% to 80% of the vessel diameter have shown a 10%-25% improvement in measurement accuracy over standard videodensitometric and edge detection techniques. Preliminary in vivo measurements of stenosed coronary arteries in a dog model indicate a similar improvement in accuracy