Method of automatic endocardium extraction from chest MRI images using three-dimensional digital image processing

In this paper, we propose a method of endocardium extraction from chest MRI images. The proposed procedure constructed with three-dimentional digital image processing techniques is executed without manual intervention. A digital figure of endocardium is obtained as two components: left chambers and right chambers. The shape of extracted endocardium was verified by observing a voxel expression image displayed with depth-coded shading. Volume change curves of left and right chambers were calculated to show feasibility of using the results for measurement of cardiac functions. (author)