Numerical Method for Geometrical Feature Extraction and Identification of Patient-Specific Aorta Models in Pediatric Congenital Heart Disease

Abstract

An algorithm providing information on the key geometric features of an aorta extracted from multi-slice computed tomography images is proposed. Using the numerical method, the aorta’s geometric characteristics, such as vessel cross-sectional areas and diameters, as well as distances between arteries, can be determined. This step is crucial for training the meta-model necessary to construct an expert system with a significantly reduced volume of data and for identifying key relationships between diagnoses and geometric and hydrodynamic features. This methodology is expected to be part of an innovative decision-making software product for clinical implementation. Based on clinical and anamnestic data as well as calculations, the software will provide the shunt parameters (in particular, its diameter) and installation position to ensure regular blood flow.

Keywords

• numerical method
• geometric features
• biomechanical features
• image segmentation
• aorta
• infant cardiovascular surgery