Determination of instantaneous blood flow rates from angiograms

In order to evaluate functional significance of stenoses and coronary flow reserve, the authors are developing a method for determination of blood flow rates from angiograms. Their method is based on analysis of the distribution of contrast material along the length of the vessel in angiograms. Cross-correlation of the concentration of contrast material along the length of the vessel was employed to determine the average velocity of the fluid between image acquisitions, i.e., an instantaneous velocity for high frame-rate acquisitions. Flow rates were calculated with the velocity and vessel cross-sectional area estimated from the vessel size