Evaluation of a Kalman-based block matching method to assess the bi-dimensional motion of the carotid artery wall in B-mode ultrasound sequences

摘要: Abstract We aim at investigating arterial diseases early stage, by assessing the longitudinal (i.e. in same direction as blood flow) motion of intima-media complex. This recently evidenced phenomenon has been shown to provide relevant and complementary information about vascular health. Our method assesses radial from clinical vivo B-mode ultrasound sequences. To estimate trajectory a selected point during cardiac cycle, we introduce block matching that involves temporal update reference using pixel-wise Kalman filter. The filter uses initial gray-level pixel control signal avoid divergence due cumulating errors. search-window sizes are adapted tissue interest. was evaluated on image sequences common carotid artery, acquired 57 healthy volunteers 25 patients high cardiovascular risk. Reference trajectories were generated for each sequence averaging tracings performed three observers. Six different computerized techniques also compared our method. With size 30 μm, average absolute estimation errors 84 ± 107 μm 20 ± 19 μm directions, respectively. accuracy order magnitude inter- intra-observers variability, smaller than other methods. estimated amplitude significantly reduced at-risk with (408 ± 281 μm vs. 643 ± 274 μm, p  can constitute reliable time-saving technique investigate stiffness studies, objective detect early-stage atherosclerosis.