Contour extraction from cardiac MRI studies using snakes

Abstract

We investigated automatic extraction of left ventricular contours from cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) studies. The contour extraction algorithms were based on active contour models, or snakes. Based on cardiac MR image characteristics, we suggested algorithms for extracting contours from these large data sets. We specifically considered contour propagation methods to make the contours reliable enough despite noise, artifacts, and poor temporal resolution. The emphasis was on reliable contour extraction with a minimum of user interaction. Both Spin echo and Gradient echo studies were considered. The extracted contours were used for determining quantitative measures for the heart and could also be used for obtaining graphically rendered cardiac surfaces.