Optimized Rigid Motion Correction From Multiple Non-Simultaneous X-Ray Angiographic Projections

X-ray angiography is the most commonly used medical imaging modality for the high resolution visualization of lumen structure in coronary arteries. Since the interpretation of 3D vascular geometry using multiple 2D image projections results in high intra- and inter-observer variability, the reconstruction of 3D coronary arterial (CA) tree is necessary. The automated 3D CA tree reconstruction from multiple 2D projections is challenging due to the existence of several imaging artifacts, most importantly the respiratory and cardiac motion. In this regard, the aim of the proposed work is to remove the effects of motion artifacts from non-simultaneous angiographic projections by developing a new iterative method for rigid motion correction. Our proposed approach is based on the optimal estimation of rigid transformation, occurred due to motion in the 3D tree, from each projection. The performance of the technique is qualitatively and quantitatively demonstrated using multiple angiographic projections of the left anterior descending, left circumflex, and right coronary artery from 15 patients.